The NSW resident who lied to police and walked out of hotel quarantine to go to the pub has been sentenced to jail.
Paul McElhinney, 33, pleaded guilty to breaching Covid-19 directions under the Emergency Management Act after he escaped from his room at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Adelaide’s CBD about 10pm on August 12 and visited a number of businesses along Hindley St during the night.
“Fortunately, you were not contagious and your irresponsible actions did not have the effect of spreading the virus,” the magistrate said. “The community needs to know there will be serious consequences for those who flaunt the emergency regulations.” The court heard the fully vaccinated man received both of Pfizer jabs while in Scotland and had tested negative before he left the country and again in Singapore.
The court previously heard McElhinney used the emergency exit to walk downstairs into the hotel's basement car park and lied to police officers about leaving a nearby pub and stumbling across the carpark.
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