A MAN who travelled across Dorset during a national lockdown has been fined.

Jake Harry Saunders, aged 20, left his home address in Poole and travelled 34 miles to Weymouth on Wednesday, February 24.

Weymouth Magistrates' Court heard he was apprehended during the third Covid-19 lockdown when people were restricted from travelling 'without reasonable excuse'.

Under coronavirus legalisation at the time of the offence, people were ordered to stay at home and work from home if possible, and only leave their home address for specific reasons.

These included to go shop for food and/or medicine for themselves or a vulnerable person, to provide care or help to a vulnerable person, to exercise, seek medical treatment or attention or meet their support bubble.

People were also urged to only travel locally in a bid to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

Saunders, of Sheringham Road in Poole, pleaded guilty to the charge of being a person who left a place or was outside without reasonable excuse under the single justice procedure. 

Saunders was ordered to pay a £320 fine, court costs of £85 and a £34 victim surcharge.