Covidiot neighbours are fined £370 after breaching lockdown by throwing alcohol-fuelled party where host told police 'I can do what I want' after nurse raised the alarm

Neighbours spent a night behind bars and were fined in court after throwing an all-day house party during the coronavirus lockdown.

Jamie Sparrow, 28, and Helen Bent, 32, were among six people, including a young child, who were found blaring music until 11pm at a semi-detached house in Bolton on Wednesday. 

Police were called to the house and found people from a number of different households enjoying a barbecue in breach of social distancing rules. 

Father-of-one Sparrow told officers he could 'do what he wants' when they tried to disperse the gathering and another row broke out when Bent launched a torrent of abuse at the nurse living nearby who reported them.

Mother-of-three Bent defied orders to leave and shouted at the nurse, branding her a 'fat f***ing s***'. 

Both spent a night in the cells before appearing at Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday.    

The judge was told police had been called to the party earlier in the day, but despite a warning, the gathering continued late into the evening.

When officers returned at 11pm, they found six people still inside the house including a young child. 

After being told to leave, Bent stormed back inside the house and turned up the volume on the music while shouting 'party'.

Laura Keegan, prosecuting, said Sparrow, who works as a care worker at a children's home, then started behaving in an 'aggressive and argumentative' manner towards officers, who were forced to restrain him.

The court heard the father-of-one did not 'seem to understand what social distancing is' even when officers tried to explain it to him.

Ms Keegan added: 'He told police he would do whatever he wants, when he wants. He said he was allowed to have a house party.'

Defending the pair, Joseph Foxler said Sparrow had consumed two glasses of rum, but was not a regular drinker.

Bent had drunk eight cans of Carling in the build-up to the incident, but was said not to be drunk.

The pair pleaded guilty to charges of a breach of peace and contravening a requirement as to restriction of movement.

District Judge John McGarva lamented Sparrow and Bent for 'flagrantly ignoring' social distancing measures.

He added: 'We have been given clear advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

'These rules are there for a good reason. I find your conduct to be quite breathtaking and arrogant.

'You have put people's lives at risk by ignoring the government's guidance and wasted police time.'

Bent and Sparrow were fined £120 and £250 respectively. Both were ordered to pay £119 in costs.