Woman from Milton Keynes fined £10,000 for Covid-19 breach with party in airbnb in Plantation Lane, Bearsted
12:18, 01 July 2021
updated: 14:40, 01 July 2021
A woman who organised a chaotic party at an £800-a-night airbnb which descended into a street fight when more than 100 people showed up has been fined £10,000.
People living in Plantation Lane, Bearsted, witnessed fighting in the road in the early hours, while another found a knife in their garden after the house was hired out.
Footage from the party
Police investigations led them to a woman in Milton Keynes who had initiated the booking. Thames Valley Police knocked on her door last week, where she was issued with a fixed penalty notice for holding a gathering of more than 30 people in a private dwelling, in breach of the Covid-19 regulations over mass gatherings.
The party started overnight on May 30 during the bank holiday weekend and a video captured the carnage.
One neighbour reported seeing blood stains on the road, although no injuries were reported to Kent Police, and another found a knife in their garden the next morning, which they believe was thrown over by party-goers.
The property host, who manages the building on behalf of the owners said it was booked for five people and the airbnb page states that "no parties or events" are allowed. She said they had to bring in professional cleaners to clear up the mess made.
At more than £800 a night, the swanky pad features a jacuzzi and a movie room and sleeps up to 10 people.
One neighbour described seeing "at least 100" young people "coming and going all night long".
The woman says she phoned the police three times in the night, but that officers did not attend until she informed them a fight had broken out.
She said: "It was just thumping music all night long, shouting...It was just horrendous."
Assistant Chief Constable Nicola Faulconbridge said: "The majority of people in Kent have been making sacrifices to follow the government’s roadmap and keep everyone safe and it is encouraging to see that hospital admissions remain fairly low, as a result.
“Amidst these good signs, however, we must all remain mindful that we are still in a pandemic and it remains against the law to organise and attend large indoor gatherings like house parties and unlicensed music events.
“In these situations, our officers will move quickly to enforcement and those found responsible will be issued with a fixed penalty notice.
“It is understandable that with the recent easing of restrictions, warmer weather and international sporting events, people will want to start socialising again. However, we urge everyone to remember that regulations apply to large gatherings, to understand the serious risk the pandemic still poses and to avoid undermining everything we have collectively achieved so far.
“As we move towards the next key date in July, officers will continue to work alongside partner agencies to ensure compliance by remaining visible and accessible while policing the regulations in a sensible and proportionate way, but they will not hesitate to use their enforcement powers when necessary.”
In October, two teenagers became the first in Kent to be fined £10,000 after a party was hosted in Canterbury.
