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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Katie Anderson & Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Mum hit with fine over son's covid party says 'it was a cheese and wine event'

A mum was left "infuriated" after being told she has to cough up £1600 by bailiffs to cover her son's unpaid lockdown fine.

Amanda Martindale was "absolutely furious" to being landed with the charge in the wake of recent revelations about restriction-flouting parties held by PM Boris Johnson and other Conservative officials in the midst of the pandemic.

While she admits 23-year-old son Alex "did wrong", she feels that there is "one rule for politicians and another rule for the public".

Amazon employee Alex Martindale, from Stanley in County Durham, attended a gathering with six others at a house in Prudhoe, Northumberland during the third national lockdown on March 20 last year.

According to Chronicle Live, he claims police attended the property and issued a number of Covid fines after receiving reports of screaming and shouting.

He was handed a £1100 fine for participating in the inside gathering during Tier 4 restrictions.

Alex explained: "I didn't pay it at the time, because I didn't feel like it was right, and I didn't open up the subsequent letters sent to me either".

As a result, a bailiff arrived at the Martindale's family home on Tuesday, demanding £1600.

The CPS collection order has risen since March through victim surcharges and other additional costs.

The bailiff knocked on the family's door on Tuesday (Chronicle Live)

"It's a very intimidating experience having a bailiff rock up to your door like that" said Amanda.

"He said he wanted the money by tomorrow or he will come and seize my furniture or my son's car.

"It's money we simply don't have - we are all feeling the squeeze at the moment and it's too much money to borrow off anyone we know."

The family are "infuriated" that they are having to pay amid ongoing investigations into a string of Downing Street parties.

Sixteen lockdown-flouting gatherings are being investigated by top civil servant Sue Gray, a dozen of which are also being investigated by the Met Police force.

Amanda continued: "I'm furious, is Boris going to pay £1600 for the string of parties held at Whitehall?

"Can't we just call Alex meeting up with his friends a cheese and wine event?

"My son knows he shouldn't have been there, but it's totally unfair that he should be fined while the Prime Minister and other politicians get away with it.

"Boris Johnson was partying while people were dying, and now my son, who is just a 23-year-old trying to find his feet, has a big financial burden to worry about."

The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment.

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