A BIRTHDAY party during strict Covid regulations has cost a Southampton man more than £2,000.

Bujor Andrei-Cosmin, 21, has been slapped with a hefty fine after participating in a gathering of 15 people on December 27, 2020.

This was at an address in Earls Road when the city was under Tier 4 regulations, which prevented any kind of household mixing.

A lone magistrate at a hearing behind closed doors found that Andrei-Cosmin, of Lodge Road, was guilty of breaking Covid rules – a criminal offence.

A witness statement from PCSO Ryan Nightingale said: “I attended the address with PCSO Griffiths-Grozier, upon arrival there was birthday banners and balloons on the door.

“We were all then invited inside to have a look who was in there.

"We were then presented to what looked to be around 15 people approximately, including children in the garden.

READ MORE: Le Tissier steps down as Saints ambassador after controversial Ukraine tweets

“I referred to the amount of people currently in the address when asked if they were aware they weren’t supposed to be having multiple households or more than one mixing together indoors and they replied ‘yes, and they will all go in an hour or so’.

“The occupants were telling us that they were all family and it was fine for them to be there – despite being told at the door they were aware they weren’t supposed to be mixing together and that they don’t know the laws.”

PCSO Nightingale had a body-worn camera activated throughout the encounter and the footage was submitted to the court.

“After discussing possible outcomes with PS Wong and PCSO Griffiths-Grozier, at approximately 4.23pm, I gathered all the adults that were being reported and said to them all ‘I will be reporting you for the offence of contranviene requirement not to participate in a gathering in a Tier 4 area of two or more people in a private dwelling and provided the ‘now’ caution to Bujor Andrei-Cosmin.”

The magistrate fined Andrei-Cosmin £1,760 and has ordered him to pay a £176 victim surcharge and court costs of £90.

This full balance of £2,026 must be paid by April 24.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News