A MAN has been fined £10,000 for repeatedly breaching the Covid-19 regulations after organising “multiple large gatherings” with other students.

The 21-year-old man, who at the time of the repeated breaches was a student of Bournemouth University, resided within private student accommodation.

It is the first Dorset Police has issued a £10,000 fixed penalty notice.

Around 70 individuals, mostly students, have also each been issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice.

Police said the first gathering took place on Sunday, October 11, with the second being held on Saturday, November 28.

On both occasions the man admitted to organising the gatherings and was issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for each incident.

On the evening of Tuesday, December 8, he organised a third gathering, this time for well in excess of 30 people.

Officers attended to break up the party and he later admitted to organising this event when interviewed under caution.

Superintendent Heather Dixey, of Dorset Police, said: “It’s not just this individual who has received fines for these house parties and gatherings. In total and across the three incidents, around 70 individuals, mostly students, have each been issued with a £200 fixed penalty notice for breach of COVID-19 rules.

“People across the country have made sacrifices and have followed the rules and guidelines in place to help stop the spread of this deadly virus. This individual, despite repeated attempts to engage by officers and Student Services at the university, has chosen to continually flout the rules, which ultimately puts him and those around him at risk.

“We haven’t taken this decision lightly, but these continual breaches, each larger in scale than the one before, cannot simply be ignored or escape enforcement action.

“I genuinely believe that the communities we serve would expect this type of action."

Superintendent Dixey added: “Our communities deserve immense credit in remaining largely compliant throughout all COVID-19 restrictions and now is the time to ensure we all remain vigilant and do not let our guard down.

“This is now and not forever. I thank the public for playing their part and we will hopefully see a return to some kind of normality soon.”