Dad fined after his son refuses to respect coronavirus lockdown for fourth time

A dad has been fined after his son continued to flout the coronavirus lockdown regulations.

West Midlands Police said the fixed penalty notice could be doubled and reach as much as £960 if the teenager continues to go outside without good reason.

The neighbourhood policing team in the Blakenall area of Walsall said the youngster had been out three times, prompting a warning to the boy's father.

But he was unable to prevent his son from going out for a fourth time, leaving the force with "no option but to issue a fine".

Commenting on the fine, Sergeant Stephen Pursglove of Walsall Police said "The youth has now come to our attention on four separate occasions when he has been outside without good reason.

Police can fine or arrest people who break coronavirus lockdown rules (Getty Images)

"On at least three of these he was with other youths and on one occasion he was abusive to the officer who tried to speak to him as he ran away.

"His father was spoken to after the first incident and the regulations, the reason for them and the risks to all of us, especially the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, were fully explained to him.

"Despite this he has failed prevent his son going out and associating with others not of his family.

"This left us with no option but to issue a fine. If the youth goes out again without good reason and again associates with others the fine will be doubled and could reach £960."

Reiterating the force's plea to stay at home, Sgt Pursglove said: "We urge everyone to stay at home and only go out for a short period of exercise once a day, or to go to the shop for essential items or travel to work where it is not possible to work from home.

"Some people seem to think that they will not catch the virus but they can unwittingly pass it on to others as well as catching it themselves.

"Thousands of people have now died in our own country and many thousands more will die if we don't all do everything asked of us to prevent the spread of the virus.

"While the vast majority of people are doing as they are asked it is a pity we now have to put ourselves at risk dealing with those who do not."