Fined: Piers Corbyn prosecuted in court for anti-lockdown rallies during Covid-19 restrictions

Anti-lockdown protestor Piers Corbyn has been fined for organising illegal rallies in Trafalgar Square during the coronavirus restrictions, the Met Police have said.

Corbyn, brother of the former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, has been ordered to pay over £1,000 by a court after being convicted of the offence yesterday (Wednesday, June 29).

The 75-year-old of East Street, Walworth, must pay a £750 fine, £275 in court costs and a £109 surcharge, following the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

He was convicted of:

• Holding/being involved in holding a gathering of more than 30 people in Trafalgar Square on August 29, 2020, in breach of Covid-19 regulations;
• Holding/being involved in holding a gathering of more than 30 people in Trafalgar Square on September 26, 2020, in breach of Covid-19 regulations;
• Holding/being involved in holding a gathering of more than 30 people in Westminster on October 24, 2020, in breach of Covid-19 regulations;
• And holding/being involved in holding a gathering of more than 30 people on the South Bank. Southwark, on December 31, 2020, in breach of Covid-19 regulations;

The fines were issued in relation to the first three events.

A woman from Brighton and a man from Bromley were also convicted and fined.

Louise Creffield, 36, of Reading Road, was found guilty of organising/being involved in organising the same August, September and October events as above.

She was fined £250 for all three dates, and also had to pay £50 in prosecution costs and £34 in surcharges.

While Vincent Dunmall, 55, of Clarendon Green, Orpington was found guilty of the same three offences and had to pay a £175 fine, £75 in prosecution costs and £34 in surcharges.

Det Insp Chris Rudd, said: “It was saddening to have to deal with these incidents where large numbers of people illegally gathered in breach of Covid regulations during a national emergency period.

“At a time when so many members of the public were making considerable sacrifices and abiding by the rules to keep others safe, these individuals acted selfishly and risked spreading the virus.

“However, our policing response demonstrated that we were prepared to take action and issue fixed penalty notices to those who deliberately flouted the rules.”