A POPLEY man who invited friends over to his house for a 'party' during the third lockdown has been named and given a four-figure fine.

Aaron Harkness was the host of an illegal gathering at his address in Guernsey Close on January 16.

Police officers received several reports of a house party and broke it up, with attendees telling them they weren't aware of the pandemic because they did not watch the news.

The incident went viral, prompting widespread outrage at a time when Covid cases were spiralling in the borough.

Harkness was issued a fixed penalty notice for inviting four people who did not live at the address to his house, after police were called at 8.33pm on the Friday night.

But a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson confirmed to The Gazette that as he failed to pay the FPN in the relevant time frame, his case was sent to court.

The now 28-year-old was charged with participating in a gathering of two or more people in a private dwelling/indoors in tier 4 area.

It was stated before Aldershot Magistrates' Court that Harkness "without reasonable excuse and other than as permitted by the regulations, participated in a gathering in the Tier 4 area of Basingstoke, Hampshire, which took place in a private dwelling, and consisted of two or more people".

At the time, the country had been plunged into a third national lockdown as it battled with the Alpha variant, which originated in Kent.

The case, heard behind closed doors via the single justice procedure at Aldershot Magistrates' Court on September 21, saw Harkness fined £874 for taking part in the gathering.

He was further ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £87 and costs of £85, meaning a total bill of £1,046.

The four people who did not live at the address were "advised about the current legislation" by officers and told to leave.

The sixth person who did live at the address was spoken to by officers.

Reacting to the news at the time, residents of Popley were not impressed by their neighbours' actions.

One resident labelled the party "totally irresponsible".

Mr Noble, who lives nearby, told The Gazette: "I think that is totally irresponsible that people should even consider it, let alone do it.

"They are not only putting other people's lives in danger, they are putting their own lives in danger.

"They haven't got much respect for their own life let alone other people's.

"It hits people of all ages, not just the elderly.

"[If they contract coronavirus,] even if they do survive there is long Covid and they could be left completely crippled for the rest of their life.

"This is something they should take into consideration when holding those parties.

"It might make them think twice if they came into contact with somebody who has been through that."