Exclusive:The full story of how a woman was wrongfully convicted under the Coronavirus Act and fined £660

Marie Dinou:
- did not enter a plea
- was ejected from court for not speaking name
- was not present when convicted
- was held in custody for 2 days https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coronavirus-marie-dinou-lockdown-stay-at-home-loitering-arrest-fine-police-a9444311.html

Police had originally questioned her because she was "loitering between platforms" at Newcastle Central station, and they suspected her of a travel offence

But they arrested her under the Coronavirus Act 2020 when she refused to give her name, address or state reason fo travel

The 41-year-old is not believed to have spoken a word between the moment of her arrest and the moment she was fined £660 in the first known case of its kind

Her refusal to speak in court meant the duty solicitor was not instructed to provide a defence or mitigation

Ms Dinou is not known to have undergone a mental health assessment, and a nurse was not present at court because of coronavirus

“Defendant refuses to identify herself, sent back to cells and proved in absence,” reads a short official account of the hearing

She was convicted under Shedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act. It creates offence of “failing to without reasonable excuse to comply with any direction, reasonable instruction, requirement or restriction” imposed as part of act

But it only applies to “potentially infectious persons”

This evening the BTP said a review with the CPS “established that Marie Dinou was charged under incorrect section of the Coronavirus Act”

The case will be relisted at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court for the conviction to be quashed

No alternative prosecution will be sought