A single mum warned she faced being fined up to £10,000 for hosting a party breaking lockdown rules was let off with a £100 punishment.
Rebecca Agnew was caught red-handed by cops who arrived at her Midlothian home and found party-goers boozing without masks on.
The 25-year-old admitted violating pandemic regulations when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Her lawyer Gordon Stewart said Agnew offered no mitigation for the breach, but referred to those in “public life” holding parties perceived to violate coronavirus rules.
Referring to the Downing Street drinks party which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now admitted attending with staff, Mr Stewart pointed out it was dominating the morning’s front pages.
He said Agnew, in contrast, was a single mum-of-one who was unemployed.
Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss had earlier pointed out the maximum fine for the offence was £10,000 before asking about the accused’s situation.
Fiscal depute Emma Todd told him police officers attended Agnew’s home in Gorebridge at 12.55am on February 6 last year.
Ms Todd said officers found a number of people exiting the address as they arrived.
She said there was “no evidence of social distancing” and “no masks” worn inside the home and “nothing was being cleaned”.
The prosecutor said there were nine people in the property, and Agnew admitted to cops there had been “more people there earlier on”.
Mr Stewart said the party was not being held for a “special occasion”.
Sheriff Auchincloss said the “dangers these events created” must be recognised, but said he was taking into account Agnew had a “limited income” and fined her £100.
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