Judge sceptical of “convoluted” excuse for self-isolation breach

Friday 09 July 2021

A 47-year-old man has been fined for breaching self-isolation requirements after arriving in Guernsey without anywhere to stay.

Russell Payne, who gave a Suffolk address, arrived in the island on 24 June by ferry. He was questioned by Border Agents on his arrival, admitting that he hadn’t booked anywhere but had intentions to stay at St Pierre Park.

He was given the numbers for both St Pierre Park and an alternative and told to book him and his dogs in for a required seven-day self-isolation period.

Payne was unsuccessful in booking himself into a hotel that day and spent the night in his car, with intentions to book in for his self-isolation the following morning.

Pictured: Payne pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court.

He received a call from Border Agents the next day, who, after learning of his predicament, came to assess the situation. After a search of his car revealed a receipt for a petrol station in Guernsey, Payne was arrested on suspicion of breaking self-isolation requirements.

During interview Payne gave a number of statements that were revealed to be false; including, wearing a mask at the petrol station, when he didn’t, and paying through his car window for fuel, when he was caught on CCTV out of his car and inside the station.

Defence Advocate Sam Steel attempted to lay out the story leading up to Payne’s self-isolation breach, but during mitigation, Payne asked to address Judge Graeme McKerrell directly.

He gave his explanation to the court personally, which included his car breaking down in the UK; a phone running out of battery, leaving him unable to call hotels; his car running out of fuel, leading him to get petrol in Guernsey; his three dogs requiring close care, meaning he had to turn down accommodation at St Pierre Park; and Border Agents giving him a number for the ‘Grand Hotel’, which he was quickly advised didn’t exist.

“Everything descended into chaos,” he said.

Pictured: “If you didn’t have a plan you shouldn’t have come,” said Judge McKerrell.

Judge McKerrell took a dim view of the story.

“I’ve never heard such a convoluted set of circumstances in my life, and I’m very sceptical of it. You came to Guernsey completely unprepared and with no plan."

Payne was given a £2,000 fine as an alternative to 200 days in prison.