A MAN who breached social distancing rules during the Covid pandemic has appeared in court almost three years after the offence.

Isac Magda-Roxana, 29, was caught participating in an indoor gathering of two or more people in Colchester on Halloween in 2020.

At the time, Colchester was placed in tier two lockdown rules which prevented mixing of households indoors, apart from so-called support bubbles.

Magda-Roxana was arrested when police attended the property and spent the night in police custody, despite the offence being “non-imprisonable”.

Gazette: Deserted - police officers patrol an empty Colchester High Street during a lockdownDeserted - police officers patrol an empty Colchester High Street during a lockdown (Image: Newsquest)

The defendant, of Forest Road, Colchester, appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 4, almost three years after the offence took place.

He admitted being in breach of the Health Protection Regulations 2020 by participating in a gathering of two or more persons indoors in a tier two area.

Magda-Roxana was discharged absolutely by the court, with the experience of going to court being “punishing enough”.

Two tier restrictions in October 2020 also bound Colchester residents to keep any social gathering outdoors to a maximum of six people.

Pubs and bars were ordered to close unless they operated as restaurants, while hospitality venues could only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.