Coronavirus: Wanted man who gave false ID at airport is jailed – BBC News

A wanted man who breached the Isle of Man’s coronavirus laws by giving false identification has been jailed.

Richard Powell, 59, admitted deliberately misleading Manx authorities after arriving on the island by private jet on 20 March.

The court heard he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest over previous offences.

Powell was sentenced to six weeks in prison after admitting providing false information to officials.

Emergency laws introduced on 16 March required new arrivals to provide personal details before self-isolating for 14 days.

Powell gave a false name, date of birth, address and telephone number on a landing card when he arrived at Ronaldsway Airport.

The court heard Powell, of no fixed address but originally from Wales, was later arrested at a rented holiday cottage in Union Mills, where he claimed he had been self-isolating.

He was wanted after failing to turn up at court in 2015, when he was convicted in his absence of stealing a fire extinguisher and fire bucket from a petrol station, and driving without a licence or insurance.

He was handed a further four-week prison term, a three-month driving ban, and a £1,000 fine for those offences.

Powell was also ordered to pay costs of £800 for the 2015 trial and an additional £925 relating to breaching the coronavirus laws.

Two other people who breached lockdown rules by being away from home for no good reason were also jailed at Douglas Courthouse.

Anne McNamara, who drove to her parents’ house in West Baldwin while over the drink-drive limit to “have tea” with her teenage daughter, was jailed for one month.

The 51-year-old, of Cronk Grianagh, Strang, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and breaching virus lockdown restrictions. She was also banned from driving for two years and fined £1,000.

Homeless Lee Crawley, 45, was handed a five-week prison sentence for breaking the rules by visiting a friend’s home.

The court head he had previously been warned by police for breaching the laws.

Source: bbc.com