Haverhill business fined for breaking COVID-19 rules

24 Jun 2022

A Haverhill business has been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,240 after being found guilty of two counts of breaking COVID-19 restrictions.

West Suffolk Council prosecuted NJ Bistros Ltd and its director Daniel Pilley for serving food and drink indoors, at the Nine Jars, High Street, Haverhill, on 26 April 2021, 27 April 2021, and 28 April 2021 when Government restrictions banning this were still in place. 

Both NJ Bistros and Pilley pleaded not guilty to three counts that, being responsible for carrying on a restricted business, he failed to close any indoor premises, or indoor part of the Nine Jars, 9 High Street, Haverhill, in which food or drink was provided for consumption on those premises and did not cease providing food or drink for consumption indoors on its premises, as required by paragraph 9(1) Part 2 Schedule 2 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions)(Steps)(England) Regulations 2021.

They were found guilty on two of the charges for 26 April and 28 April but cleared on the other (27 April) by Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday (22).

As well as the fine and costs, the court ordered NJ Bistros pay a £200 victim surcharge. 

Cllr Andy Drummond, Cabinet Member for Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “These Government regulations were put in place to try to protect people and to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 so that the daily life that we all took for granted, such as meeting family and getting back to business, could return as quickly as possible. 

“Councils were tasked with enforcing these rules which we did but, as with this case, before any prosecution was considered we always gave advice and support to help businesses to comply. Prosecution is always a last resort, and we welcome the court’s decision.”

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