Douglas man jailed after attending party during lockdown

Friday, 17 April 2020 13:07

Thirty-seven-year-old admits breaching coronavirus restrictions

A Douglas man caught outside a house where a party was being held during the coronavirus lockdown has been jailed for five weeks.

Treadwell Nesbitt of Sidney Terrace appeared before Deputy High Bailiff Christopher Arrowsmith at Douglas courthouse.

The 37-year-old admitted one charge of breaching the Island’s Emergency Powers Act.

The court heard unemployed Nesbitt had been warned by police on 4 April after they found him out of his home without a reasonable excuse.

Less than a fortnight later on 16 April, officers went to an address in Fairfield Terrace in Douglas after neighbours reported hearing a party.

As they turned up, Nesbitt was arrested as he tried to leave through the back door.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said his client had been locked out of his own flat the night before and was staying with a friend of a friend.

But he said Nesbitt, who has previous convictions, accepted should have told police when he couldn’t get into his home.

Mr Arrowsmith said defying the emergency pandemic laws meant putting lives at risk, and sent Nesbitt to prison for 35 days.

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