Neighbours who breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions by throwing an all-day house party have appeared in court.
Jamie Sparrow told police he could 'do what he wants' after he was ordered to break up the gathering at his home pm Princess Avenue, Kearsley, Bolton.
Officers were called to the house on Wednesday (April 15) after a complaint from a nurse who lived on the street.
They found six people from different households enjoying a barbecue and drinking alcohol.
A disturbance then broke out in the street after Sparrow's nextdoor neighbour Helen Bent directed a torrent of abuse at the woman who had complained.
Bent, 32, and Sparrow, 28, were arrested and spent a night in the cells before appearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
A judge was told police had been called to the party at the semi-detached property earlier in the day.
Despite a warning, the party continued late into the evening.
When officers returned at 11pm, they found six people still inside the house - including a young child.
Bent defied further orders to leave and, as other neighbours aired their concerns to officers in the street, the mother-of-three turned on the woman who had complained, calling her a 'fat f***ing s**g'.
She then stormed back inside the house and turned up the volume on the music while shouting 'party'.
Laura Keegan, prosecuting, said Sparrow, who works as a care worker at a children's home, then started behaving in an 'aggressive and argumentative' manner towards officers, who were forced to restrain him.
The court heard the father-of-one did not 'seem to understand what social distancing is' even when officers tried to explain it to him.
Ms Keegan added: "He told police he would do whatever he wants, when he wants. He said he was allowed to have a house party."
Joseph Foxler, representing the pair in court, said Sparrow had consumed two glasses of rum, but was not a regular drinker.
Bent had drunk eight cans of Carling in the build-up to the incident, but was said not to be drunk.
The pair pleaded guilty to charges of a breach of peace and contravening a requirement as to restriction of movement.
District Judge John McGarva lamented Sparrow and Bent for 'flagrantly ignoring' social distancing measures.
He added: "We have been given clear advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
"These rules are there for a good reason. I find your conduct to be quite breathtaking and arrogant.
"You have put people's lives at risk by ignoring the govenment's guidance and wasted police time."
Bent and Sparrow were fined £120 and £250 respectively. Both were ordered to pay £119 in costs.
