Three men fined for self-isolation breaches

Monday 27 July 2020

Three men have been fined for breaching mandatory self-isolation, including a hospitality worker who lied to his colleague saying their seven-day test results had come back negative.

Mark Dillon, 31, was fined £6,000, while Georgie Philips, 29, and Terence Jones, 56, have been fined £3,000.

Dillon and Philips both arrived at Guernsey Airport on 10 July during the day 7 test trial. They had been employed by a local hotel and were due to start after they completed their compulsory self-isolation.

However that same night, Dillon went to the Tuck Shop near the Bus Terminus twice in the space of about half an hour. On the second occasion, he was told by the shopkeeper that he shouldn't be there.

On 16 July, Dillon was spotted by his employer outside the Harbour Lights and escorted back to his living quarters. On their way back, Dillon said Philips was still inside the pub. The prosecution said Dillon had told Philips their results had been returned and had come back negative.

25 minutes afterwards, Dillon was seen walking past Mojitos and taken back to his room.

Shortly afterwards, he left his room again and went to the bus terminus, only to be caught another time by his manager and returned to his room. Their manager claims Dillon appeared to be trying to hide from her.

Pictured: Dillon went to the Tuck Shop twice in the same night. 

The Judge Gary Perry said the breaches were obvious, flagrant and persistent. 

"The rules are there to save lives. These rules have been written to keep people safe."

Dillon and Philips, who were both described as being 'penniless and homeless' since their employment had fallen through, will have to pay £6,000 and £3,000 respectively before they are released from custody. 

Terence Jones returned to the island on 1 July at around 15:00 having been to the UK for urgent medical treatment. Just a couple of hours afterwards, Jones was seen outside the Britannia smoking a cigarette by the same customs officer who had spoken to him about the quarantine requirements at the airport. 

They followed Jones inside, where he was on his second pint. Jones said he was picking up his house keys from someone at the pub.

Pictured: All three men were told that they needed to self-isolate by customs officers at the airport. 

Judge Perry said this was another flagrant breach. Given Jones' serious health condition, he said it "beggars belief" that someone who would have been especially vulnerable to the coronavirus had acted in this way and put other people at risk.

"People like you put all of [Guernsey's] hard work at risk of a further outbreak that could cause more deaths on the island," said Judge Perry. 

Jones was given a £3,000 fine, but because of his exceptional circumstances, will not need to pay the fine immediately. Jones will have the fine deducted from his benefits at an amount of £60 per week, and will not be kept in custody so that medical checkups relating to his condition can continue.

In closing, Judge Perry said: "When you come back from your next [medical] appointment, follow the rules."