A Perth man who breached quarantine restrictions and went to a Northbridge pub after returning from Queensland has been fined $7,500.
Paul Lawrence, 53, had already pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court.
Lawrence had been visiting family in Queensland in August and returned to Western Australia without an entry permit 24 hours later.
On arrival in Perth he was taken to hospital after complaining of chest pains.
On Monday, the court was told that after Lawrence was discharged at the hospital he waited for a while and then left and went to a nearby pub, despite a police direction to stay at the hospital for 14 days unless given further directions.
During sentencing, Magistrate Richard Bayly was critical of the police directive, questioning what Lawrence was supposed to do after he was discharged and had no further direction.
"The direction was not very clear," Magistrate Bayly said.
He said Lawrence had acted foolishly but it did not warrant jail.
'A foolish thing to do': Lawrence
Magistrate Bayly pointed to the fact the Supreme Court had last week given a community service order, on appeal, to 28-year-old Perth woman Asher Vander Sanden who breached quarantine laws when she snuck across the WA border hidden inside a car being transported by a truck.
Lawrence apologised for his actions and agreed they had been foolish.
"I've pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity and I am sorry to both the hospital staff and the patrons of the Northbridge Hotel," he told the court.
"It was probably a foolish thing to do."
Police were forced to close the pub Lawrence had gone to as a precaution.
He later tested negative for coronavirus.
But Magistrate Bayly said he had still put patrons at risk.
"You placed the people at the hotel in potential danger," he told Lawrence.
Lawrence also told the court he had mental health issues, and Magistrate Bayly said that had played a part in what happened.
Lawrence was also required to pay $248 in court costs.
