‘We’ve been bored’ student partygoers tell police before being fined a total of £17k

3 February 2021, 12:33

'Bored' student party-goers fined £17k

By Joe Cook

Police body-cam footage has revealed the moment university students told officers they threw a 30-person house party as they were “bored” - before being fined a total of £17,000.

Lancashire Police say they interrupted the a party at around 2.45am on Sunday, finding around 30-people inside celebrating a birthday.

Body-worn footage shows one of the party-goers, who are believed to be Edge Hill University students, telling police: "We've been bored and we want to have fun."

"We have been in lockdown for ages," one person says, attempting to justify their actions.

Some of the students fled through a window, with police handing out £800 fines to nine of those attending.

The attendees are some of the first to be slapped with the new fines, which came into force this weekend for anyone attending a house party of 15 or more.

Read more: Covid outbreak at Sandhurst after officer cadets 'break socialising rules'

Read more: National clap for Captain Sir Tom Moore at 6pm, Boris Johnson says

The organiser of the party was also located and will be given a £10,000 fine, police say.

In the footage, she can be seen telling officers the party was supposed to be a "little gathering". She claims she is permitted to have up to 14 people over, despite all household mixing indoors being banned across the UK.

"How do you expect a 20-year-old girl to pay £10,000 for this?” she asks officers, adding: "It's not worth £10,000."

"It isn't worth £10,000. You're right," the officer responds.

Read more: Covidiot films himself abusing Professor Chris Whitty in the street and calls him 'liar'

Read more: Don't go shopping in variant-risk areas if you don't have to, Hancock tells LBC

James O'Brien caller: A certain type of person doesn't think Covid rules apply to them

Another man was arrested after an officer was pushed, the force said.

Sam Taiwo, 23, of Bellhouse Road, Sheffield, has since been charged with assaulting a police officer and is due to appear at Preston Magistrates' Court on April 1.

Superintendent Karen Edwards described the party as a “blatant breach of the current restrictions, which are in place to prevent the virus from spreading and to keep everybody safe”.

"It is unbelievably selfish for anyone to believe they are exempt when so many law-abiding citizens have not seen their friends and family properly in almost a year,” she added.

"The people in attendance also gave no thought to the safety of the local community or the officers who had to attend to break up the gathering, not to mention the NHS which is under immense strain.

"It is also shocking that an officer reported being assaulted while dealing with the aftermath of the event."

Read more: CCTV of Rita Ora's lockdown flouting birthday party wiped from hard drive

Read more: Rule-breaking 'hot tub party' host tells police he was 'unaware' of Covid-19 pandemic

Police break up house party in Bristol and seize music equipment

The force say they received 517 calls about Covid-19 breaches this weekend, issuing 181 tickets. Most of these were for house parties, those not self-isolating after arriving in the UK from abroad and businesses not complying with the regulations.

A spokesman for Edge Hill University said: "We are fully co-operating and working closely with the police to establish the details.

"This is completely unacceptable behaviour and we will be taking appropriate action in line with our disciplinary procedures.

"We cannot pre-empt the outcome of these investigations or predict any final sanctions that might be imposed; however, the university is able to exclude students in the most serious cases."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

An assistant referee has been charged with child sexual offences.

Assistant referee for FA Cup and football league games charged with child sexual offence

Corinna Schumacher, right, has broken her silence on the case involving a plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets.

Michael Schumacher's wife breaks silence after three men guilty of blackmail plot to reveal F1 legend's health secrets

Doctor Who

Doctor Who faces axe as Nucti Gatwa 'quits' show amid drop in ratings over 'woke' storylines

Pope Francis

Pope Francis cancels weekend engagements as hospital stay extended

Bristol, UK. 19th Mar, 2020. Petrol now under £1 a litre as the drop in oil prices hits the forecourt. 99.9p a litre at Costco, Avonmouth, Bristol. Credit: Julian Kemp/Alamy Live News

Ten people injured after 'noxious substance' thrown in Costco as police hold teenage suspect

Alhaurin El Grande Malaga Province Spain Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

Heartbreak as Brit pensioner, 90, 'starves to death in her Spanish home' as son, 63, 'found dead in property'

E-scooters are currently illegal to use on the public highways including pavements.

E-scooters blamed for 'shocking' surge in uninsured teen riders with 2,000% increase in offences

Thames Water has won court approval for a £3 billion emergency debt package as the nation's biggest water company scrambles to avoid collapse.

Thames Water handed £3 billion lifeline as court approves restructuring plans to save it from financial collapse

US and Russia begin talks about Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

Vladimir Putin 'ready to meet Zelenskyy', Moscow says as Russia-US peace talks underway

A drone view of Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock during an Everton under-18 friendly match test event.

Everton's new stadium makes its grand debut after £800million and four years

Job Centre Plus, London Road, Twickenham, Greater London, England, Great Britain, United Kingdom UK, Europe

UK wages see unexpected rise as unemployment rate holds steady at 4.4 per cent