HE'S ALREADY copped several $1000 fines but the man who flagrantly breached the state's COVID-19 laws has walked from court after being put on a bond.
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William David Kevin Hay has been intercepted by Oxley police on six occasions in just a few weeks - each time breaking non-essential travel rules.
The Leader can reveal 24-year-old Hay pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one charge of not complying with noticed direction under the COVID-19 laws.
Hay fronted Narrabri Local Court for sentencing, after his arrest on Saturday night in Narrabri.
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In sentencing, magistrate Peter Thompson said he had to impose a conviction for the offending, even after Hay had spent one night in custody.
Hay was then placed on a community corrections order, or good behaviour bond, for nine months for repeated breaches of the state's public health orders.
As part of the order, Hay must not commit any further offences or he'll be re-sentencing; must be supervised by Community Corrections staff; and must undertake drug and alcohol counselling, among a list of conditions.
The 24-year-old was intercepted on the road in Grace Street in Narrabri, about 11.10pm on Saturday.
Police stopped the car the man was driving for a random breath test. The 24-year-old passed the roadside test but police claim he "was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home".
Hay was arrested in Narrabri by police who found him out and about, despite the previous two official police warnings and three $1000 fines he had been given for non-essential travel.
Oxley police have warned the police crackdown will continue, and locals will face the full force of the law if they break the rules.
"Out of those six [interactions with police], he was given three infringement notices," Oxley Superintendent Kylie Endemi said this week.
"I think the messaging has been strong, it's been reiterated time and time again.
We're now a couple of weeks into these restrictions and I don't think there's any excuses anymore for anyone not knowing what they can and can't do.
- Oxley Superintendent Kylie Endemi
"We're now a couple of weeks into these restrictions and I don't think there's any excuses anymore for anyone not knowing what they can and can't do."
Superintendent Endemi - the Oxley's top cop - said the rules were there for safety reasons.
"We still field a number of calls everyday and we still work with the community because there are some grey areas within the rules and we guide them through that. That's why we provide warnings, that's why we exercise discretion," she said.
"Unfortunately, on the weekend that was just far too many and there's no discretion for that amount of detections.
"He was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being out, the excuse that he did provide we will allege we were able to determine that was not the case."
Superintendent Endemi said there was plenty of locals who were dobbing in those doing the wrong thing, and she urged the community to keep up the calls for the cop crackdown.
"We are fielding a number of calls as is Crime Stoppers because the vast majority of people are doing the right thing and they are sacrificing a lot," she said.
"So when they see people who aren't doing that it really makes a difference to them, upsets them and they are letting us know about them."
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
