A salon owner who racked up almost £30,000 in fines after refusing to close during lockdown has now been forced to shut up shop and summoned to court.
Sinead Quinn, who owns Quinn Blakey Hairdressing in Oakenshaw, was given multiple fines after being found to be open and trading despite the lockdown restrictions introduced on 5 November that meant all hair salons had to close.
So far, she has been fined a whopping £27,000 ($36,000).
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Quinn quoted the Magna Carta as a justification to stay open.
The clause she cited, Clause 61, offered 25 barons the right to lawfully rebel if they thought they were being governed unjustly by the king at the time, but it was later omitted from later versions and was never enshrined in English law.
Several people have attempted to use the defence in court, but none have been successful.
After being found open again on Friday, Quinn was given a closure notice from Kirklees Council, which means that no one except someone who lives there or owns the premises is allowed inside, the Mirror reports.
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Anyone found breaking this closure notice could be hit with a fine or set to prison for up to three months.
As well as this, Kirklees Council also applied for a closure order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which will now be heard before a Magistrates' Court on Monday (30 November).
If this is approved, it will mean it's a serious offence for anyone to be found on the premises with a maximum prison sentence of 51 weeks as well as a fine.
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Councillor Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees, said: "I completely understand the frustrations of local business owners and thankfully the overwhelming majority of them have complied with the national lockdown and closed to help us overcome the virus.
"This pandemic has been devastating for a vast number of reasons, including the impact it has had on people's livelihoods.
"The lockdown rules put in place by the Government are there so we can lower our infection rates, ease pressure on our health services and to ultimately save people's lives.
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"The actions taken by this business owner, and those who have given her custom during this period, have been illegal, selfish and reckless.
"The business owner has wilfully endangered herself, her customers, the wider community and our staff.
"We don't want to fine our businesses or take action like this against them, particularly after such a difficult year. However, we have given this business every opportunity to do the right thing and public health must come first. We have been left with no choice.
"Thank you to the vast majority of people in Kirklees who are following the rules and guidance. If we all continue to play our part, we will get where we need to be."
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LADbible has contacted Kirklees Council for further comment.
Featured Image Credit: SWNSTopics: UK News