CORONAVIRUS

‘Casual criminalisation’ fears after teenager is wrongly convicted under coronavirus law

The 18-year-old was arrested in Oxford under a law targeting people thought to have Covid-19. The law refers to Wales and he was not thought to be ill
The 18-year-old was arrested in Oxford under a law targeting people thought to have Covid-19. The law refers to Wales and he was not thought to be ill
ADRIAN DENNIS/GETTY IMAGES

A teenager in Oxford was wrongly convicted and sentenced under Welsh coronavirus legislation as concerns mount over the “casual criminalisation” of people under lockdown.

Lewis Brown, 18, said he was visiting his vulnerable mother to give her money when he was arrested by Thames Valley Police.

He was charged under Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act, designed to direct potentially infected people to be screened, despite no indication that police believed him to be ill with Covid-19.

The officers charged him with offences under paragraph 67 of the act, which relates to potentially infectious people in Wales.

The teenager pleaded guilty when he appeared at Oxford magistrates’ court on April 20, two days after his arrest. District judge Kamlesh Rana fined him £100 and ordered