Tradie who repeatedly broke mandatory hotel quarantine to visit his girlfriend becomes the first Australian to be jailed for flouting lockdown laws
- Tradie who broke mandatory hotel quarantine to visit his girlfriend is jailed
A tradesman from Perth who ‘selfishly’ broke mandatory hotel quarantine rules to visit his girlfriend has become the first Australian to be jailed for the offence.
Jonathan David was jailed for six months and two weeks for leaving the Travelodge hotel in Perth CBD and using public transport to visit his partner.
The 35-year-old concreter was housed in the hotel from March 27 to complete his 14 day coronavirus quarantine after he returned from an interstate trip to Victoria.
He was sentenced to a partially suspended jail term after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to comply with police directions.
The first month of his sentence must be served immediately, but he will be able to carry out the remainder of the time in the community, the West Australian reported.
David was also fined $2,000, and has been told if he breaks the law within the next 12 months, he risks returning to jail.
Magistrate Elaine Campione described David’s actions as ‘selfish to the extreme’ during sentencing.
‘You chose to roll the dice with other people’s lives and that was breathtakingly arrogant,’ she said.
‘We must protect the community from those who do not care.’
WA Police accused David of wedging open a fire door, using it to creep in and out without being seen by police.
In order to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, WA effectively made itself an ‘island state’, Premier Mark McGowan said on April 2.
More to come.