Bournemouth University student party organiser fined £10,000 over Covid breaches

About 70 people, mostly students, received individual fines related to the parties

A student has been slapped with a £10,000 fine after ignoring repeated warnings by hosting parties in breach of coronavirus rules.

The man, 21, studying at Bournemouth University, held the events at his private student accommodation.

The first took place on 11 October, the second on 28 November - which was during the second lockdown - and the latest was on 8 December.

About 70 people received individual £200 fines related to the gatherings.

Most of these were students, police added.

The organiser received the same £200 fixed penalty notice for breaching Covid-19 restrictions at the first two events, but he then went on to throw a third larger party which had more than 30 guests.

Supt Heather Dixey, from Dorset Police, said: "Officers attended to break up the party and he later admitted to organising this event when interviewed under caution."

She added: "This individual, despite repeated attempts to engage by officers and student services at the university, has chosen to continually flout the rules, which ultimately puts him and those around him at risk.

"We haven't taken this decision lightly, but these continual breaches, each larger in scale than the one before, cannot simply be ignored or escape enforcement action.

In a statement, Bournemouth University said: "Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been in constant communication with our students to ensure that all students are aware of government guidelines and university policies, and the need to take personal responsibility to protect themselves, their fellow students, and the community in which they are living.

"We will take action against any student who is found to be in breach of university regulations, and continue to actively work with the council and the police."

The university said it has yet to be given the details of the student involved by police so is yet to take any action against them.