Man fined for self-isolation breach

Tuesday 10 November 2020

A man has been fined £4,000 after he went to a relative's house to pick up his medication during his self-isolation period.

Kieran Allen arrived back in Guernsey on 23 August after going to the UK for essential medical treatment.

Allen went through the usual arrivals process at the harbour, opting for a seven-day test for the coronavirus before leaving for the hotel he had booked for the week in order to avoid coming into contact with a vulnerable family member. 

On 28 August, police arrived at the hotel and staff told the officers that Allen had left. Police found Allen walking back towards the hotel and observed that he "smelt of alcohol" and was "unsteady on his feet". They noted that Allen was approximately halfway between the hotel and St Jacques Tavern when they encountered him.

Pictured: Allen was remanded in custody until £500 of his fine has been paid.

Defence Advocate Sam Maindonald said her client had been out to collect essential medication from a relative. That relative had made arrangements to collect the medication from the pharmacy, but was unable to go to the hotel, so Allen went round to collect it and then return immediately back to his room. 

The relative was reportedly unaware at the time that the pharmacy could have made alternative arrangements to deliver Allen's medication to him.

"It wasn't his intention to cause any distress to anyone else," said Advocate Maindonald, adding that Allen had "deliberately gone the long way" in order to avoid coming into contact with people. 

However, Judge Graeme McKerrell was "sceptical" of the explanation put forward and said it was notable that Allen's alternative route "took in the St Jacques Tavern", given that officers had said he was drunk. However, Allen said that he had consumed alcohol at the hotel before leaving and was out for approximately 30 minutes. 

Pictured: Allen returned to the island by boat after receiving medical treatment in the UK. 

Judge McKerrell remained unconvinced: "At the end of the day, isolation means isolation, it does not mean going out and there is a problem there are ways around it. I remain sceptical from the route you apparently took."

"Whilst there has to be constant vigilance and efforts by the authorities to keep the public safe, the Court also has to play its part and has to sentence appropriately when breaches occur."

Allen was fined £4,000 for his breach - £500 of which will have to be paid before he is released from custody, and £400 per month thereafter until the sum is paid.