Woman Fined For Covid Lockdown Breach Was Driving Around 'To Find Fit Fellas'

A woman who was fined for breaching lockdown rules says she was just 'looking for some fit fellas'.

Louise Whelan, of Rankin Street, Wallasey, was stopped on Tollemarche Road, Birkenhead on 4 May last year during the first lockdown.

At the time, the then 29-year-old claimed she had been dropping her niece off and had been to the shops.

However, court documents that have since been reported in the Liverpool Echo show that Whelan had, in fact, been over in Liverpool on the lookout for some good-looking men.

In a witness statement provided to the court, PC David Cullen said: "I asked her why they had been to Liverpool to which she stated, 'I was just trying to see some fella.'

"She went on to say that she had had some problems in Wirral and that Liverpool had loads of 'fit fellas', and that she was driving around trying to find some.

Liverpool Echo

"I pointed out to her that this was not a valid reason to be out to which she replied, 'I wasn't even going shopping, that was a lie.'"

This exchange has only been disclosed now die to witness statements relating to the case having been released following a hearing under the single justice procedure.

This is when a single magistrate sits in private to decide on cases without lawyers or defendants - having agreed beforehand - being present.

They then make their ruling based on the written evidence in front of them.

And magistrate Gordon Roberts found Whelan guilty of having left her residence without reasonable excuse during lockdown, fining her £220.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and £34 as a surcharge for victims' services, taking the total to £339.

PA

Earlier this year, a woman was fined after breaking lockdown rules by travelling 100 miles to get a McDonald's.

North Yorkshire Police issued the fine after discovering that the motorist had driven from Lincolnshire to meet up with her sister in Scarborough for a Maccies.

Speaking about the incident, Chief Inspector Rachel Wood said: "Driving through three counties to get a burger is not classed as essential travel.

"So the woman, who is in her 30s, received a fixed penalty notice from North Yorkshire Police.

"Most people in North Yorkshire are trying really hard to stop the spread of Covid in our communities and protect the vulnerable.

"When this pandemic is over, we know everyone's looking forward to going where they want, when they want."

Topics: Liverpool, Police, covid, lockdown, Coronavirus, Health, Covid-19, court

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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