The owner of a Somerset tanning salon has been fined several thousand pounds after he opened his locked store.
Nicholas Owen, 35, owner of Solar Tanning at Pithay House on Main Street in Paulton, near Midsomer Norton, showed “complete disrespect for residents,” a court said.
The salon had been open since January 11, offering tanning services to locals amid the lockdown and at a time when national deaths exceeded 1,000 per day.
Owen was fined £ 5,000 and ordered to pay £ 2,500 in costs by the Bath Magistrates Court for violating coronavirus regulations following a lawsuit brought by the Bath and North East Somerset Council.
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Councilor Paul Crossley, a member of the Council’s Community Services Cabinet, said: “Owen’s breaches of rules are an exceptional case where he has demonstrated a complete disrespect for the residents.
After a complaint, an Avon and Somerset police officer visited the business on January 12 and found the front door open.
Although no one was at the scene at the time, a sign at reception offered tanning facilities and gave a phone number to ring.
The agent then found two card receipts showing that customers had purchased tanning services on January 11 and 12.
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As Owen had previously received advice from Bath and North East Somerset Council, including service of notice, the case was referred back to Council for prosecution under the 2020 Health Protection Regulations. .
Owen did not appear in court and the court learned in his absence that the council’s public protection team had previously served a prohibition notice on Owen and that council agents had visited Solar Tanning’s premises. and served notice of a fixed penalty of £ 1,000.
Owen did not pay the fixed penalty notice and, as a result, the council initiated criminal proceedings against him.
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Mr Crossley added: “I am happy to say that the vast majority of traders have complied with the foreclosure rules, although it may have been difficult for their businesses and our executives have found legal compliance to be extremely high in the area. region.
“In mid-January, when nationwide Covid deaths were over 1,000 per day, he opened his store apparently without concern for the potential transmission of the virus.
“I would like to thank the majority of traders for their cooperation with our officers during this difficult time.”
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-27 11:08:33
