The parents of an 18-year-old are refusing to pay his £10,000 fine for hosting a house party he claimed got out of hand.
Police found between 80 and 100 people at the house party in Devizes, Wiltshire, on September 4. The teen claimed he had only invited a few friends over but his event was gatecrashed after word got out about it on social media.
Officers were called to the event and ordered party-goers to leave but after being ignored, police fined the organiser and dispersed the guests.
But the boy’s family have refused to pay the hefty fine because they believe their son did not intentionally break Covid-19 rules and said they are willing to take the case to court, according to The Times.
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The family have reportedly filed a complaint with Wiltshire police and have instructed a solicitor. The teen’s father has vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court, insisting drunk gatecrashers are more to blame than his son.
His father told the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: ‘He (his son) was utterly stupid. He ignored our instructions and the government advice. He is very chastened. But they were gatecrashed.
‘This is a completely new law. We have never had legal restrictions on the number of people in a house before.
‘This could go to the Supreme Court as to whether you can legally impose a criminal penalty when the majority of people were gatecrashers.’
At the time of the party, gatherings of up to 30 people were allowed to be held indoors. However, restrictions on social gatherings now differ depending on what tier their region is under.
Police were recently given new powers to give organisers of illegal gatherings fines up to £10,000 and there is no appeals system in place.
Wiltshire Police said they were unable to comment ‘as the matter is ongoing’.
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