WHILE the vast majority of Herefordshire residents have stayed at home and followed the lockdown restrictions over the past year, some have defied them.

Here is a look back at some of the lockdown breaches by people in Herefordshire, as well as just over the county border into Worcestershire and Powys.

Police catch people from Hereford taking daytrip to the seaside

Hereford Times:

Daytrippers from Hereford were stopped on their way to the beach after their loud exhaust caught the attention of police in Ceredigion.

Officers in the Welsh county spotted the Ford Fiesta, which was carrying two passengers, while carrying out road patrols in April 2020.

Police said the Gloucester driver and her two friends from Hereford, told officers they were on a roadtrip to the seaside.

Driver caught making 100-mile journey to Hereford to buy jet washer

Hereford Times:

A driver who travelled from Derby to Hereford to buy a jet washer was "dealt with" by police for making a 100-mile non-essential journey, also in April 2020.

The officers from Herefordshire's operational patrol unit said people were continuing to flout lockdown rules in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.

"Sadly people still seem to be flouting lockdown restrictions," officers from West Mercia Police said on Twitter.

"Traffic in Herefordshire appears to be increasing. Driving from Derby to Hereford to buy a jet washer is not essential.

"Driver dealt with for Covid offences. Please, please stay at home if not essential travel."

Man arrested after breaking coronavirus rules at Hereford Tesco

Hereford Times:

A man who reportedly refused to wear a face mask without a valid reason was arrested after police were called to Hereford's Bewell Street Tesco.

Footage of the incident, where officers were called to the city centre shop, was uploaded to the internet in January 2021.

In the video, understood to have been filmed by the man's son, a West Mercia Police officer was seen repeatedly asking the man for his name and details so a fine could be issued, but the man refused to reveal the information.

He was then arrested for breaching coronavirus regulations after continuing to refuse to comply with the officer's questions.

MP defends travelling from Herefordshire home to see elderly parents

The Housing Secretary faced no police action after he travelled from Herefordshire to deliver medicines to his elderly parents in Shropshire during the first lockdown.

Robert Jenrick was reported to have travelled 40 miles to visit his parents in Shropshire from his Herefordshire home in Eyeton, near Leominster.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham of West Mercia Police, which covers Herefordshire, said: “From the information I have, I do not believe this requires police involvement and West Mercia Police will not be taking any action at this time."

Conservative MP for Newark Robert Jenrick said he respected social distancing when he dropped off medicines and other essentials to his elderly parents, who are self-isolating at their home.

While the Government's guidelines state you should not visit anyone who lives outside your own home, including elderly relatives, you are allowed to "leave your house to help them, for example by dropping shopping or medication at their door".

After the incident in April 2020, Mr Jenrick said on Twitter: "For clarity - my parents asked me to deliver some essentials - including medicines.

"They are both self-isolating due to age and my father's medical condition and I respected social distancing rules."

Police stop people from Hereford on jaunt to Brecon Beacons

Hereford Times:

Police stopped people from Hereford who had driven to the Brecon Beacons in April 2020 in breach of lockdown rules.

Day-trippers from Birmingham were also stopped, as were two hikers from Bristol who wanted to walk Pen Y Fan. They were issued with fixed penalty notices by police.

Ten people from London who travelled 245 miles to go walking in North Wales were sent home and reported by police for breaking lockdown rules.

The group, travelling in two separate vehicles, had travelled the five-hour journey from the capital. But they were stopped by police near their destination on the A5 in Bethesda.

Minibus driver fined for taking 10 people to beauty spot

Hereford Times: Dyfed-Powys Police/PA Wire.

A minibus driver was fined for flouting coronavirus lockdown restrictions after taking a party of 10 people almost 80 miles to the Brecon Beacons.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the driver had travelled from Cheltenham to the Brecon Beacons National Park in February 2021, with people told to stay local for exercise.

The police said he was fined, but his passengers were not with him at the time officers spoke to the driver.

Pen Y Fan in the heart of the beacons is 79 miles from Cheltenham, a drive that should take an hour and 39 minutes.

Hereford takeaway fined for breaking coronavirus rules

Hereford Times:

Sizzler in Hereford was fined £1,000 for breaking coronavirus rules in October 2020.

West Mercia Police fined the Union Street takeaway in the early hours of October 9 after it was found to still be serving customers at 1am, in breach of laws at the time.

However, they did not name the business at the time citing College of Policing guidance which suggests forces should not name individuals.

The information regarding the premises was then confirmed by other local authorities.

The coronavirus restrictions meant takeaways, along with all hospitality, leisure and entertainment businesses, had to close from 10pm to 5am, although delivery was permitted.

Firms who did not comply could be fined up to £10,000 or closed, and people risked £200 penalties for not wearing a mask or breaching the rule of six.

Revellers at New Year's Eve parties in Herefordshire fined

Hereford Times: Herts Police have issued a stark warning to would-be New Year's Eve revellers. Photos: Unsplash

More than a dozen people were fined for flouting coronavirus rules on New Year's Eve in Herefordshire, West Mercia Police said.

With Herefordshire moving to Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions on December 31, people could not meet others from outside their household in most places, making parties and gatherings illegal.

But West Mercia Police fined 18 people at three different parties across the county on New Year's Eve.

Police did not say where the gatherings took place, who was fined, or how much.

Police break up illegal rave and fine organiser £10,000

Hereford Times:

The organiser of an illegal rave on the Herefordshire border was fined £10,000 in December 2020, West Mercia Police said.

Officers received reports of up to 50 people at the mass gathering in the West Of England Quarry car park on the Malvern Hills. Gatherings such as this have been against the law during the coronavirus pandemic.

Police told ravers to leave and the organiser, who has not been named, was fined £10,000.

Man videos himself being arrested for not wearing face mask in Hereford supermarket

Hereford Times:

A man was arrested in Sainsbury's after failing to wear a face mask or give police his details.

The man, who has not been identified, filmed the incident before uploading it to YouTube in December 2020.

When challenged about his exemption to wear a mask by a police office the man refused to give his details and was arrested.

West Mercia Police Superintendent for Hereford Ross Jones said he was satisfied that the officers acted in accordance with their powers.

Herefordshire motorcyclist fined for flouting coronavirus lockdown restrictions

Hereford Times:

A motorcyclist was fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions during lockdown.

Marcus Christopher Jones, of Mansel Gamage, Herefordshire, admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on October 20.

The court heard Jones had left his Herefordshire home and travelled to the Elan Valley in Powys on May 2 to collect a part for his motorcycle, in breach of Welsh coronavirus restrictions.

The 21-year-old was fined £120 and must pay costs of £85 and a £34 victim surcharge.

Welsh crash driver flouted lockdown to visit Tier 1 Hereford's pubs

Hereford Times: Starting Gate, Hereford

A pubgoer was caught drink-driving in December after crashing on a night out to Tier 1 Herefordshire from locked-down Wales, a court has heard.

Callum John Gait, of Treneol, Aberdare, admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on January 20.

Gait, 25, was disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £200. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.