A pastor has refused to pay a £10,000 fine after holding a worship event for more than 30 people in a Nottinghamshire car park during Tier 4 Covid lockdown restrictions.
Pastor Chizumie Dyer, 47, insists she was not breaking the law when she organised a Church on the Streets event outside a pub in February earlier this year.
These events often include a food stall that feeds the homeless.
Police closed down the service at Bulwell’s Top House pub and issued her a fine.
Ms Dyer initially pleaded guilty for violating Covid rules. However, she now refuses to pay the penalty and has filed a request to reopen the case.
Pastor Chez, who held it in the Top House pub car park, claimed it was a legal spot of worship and that the service also included feeding homeless people.
However, she didn’t attend the hearing about her case at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday. She claimed that she hadn’t been notified about it.
The case was rescheduled for December 9.
After the adjournment, the pastor stated that he would have been happy to be in court today to tell his side of the story.
“We weren’t breaking the law, it wasn’t a worship event that took place in open. We were self-distancing, following the guideline.
“We are a worship place, we have been given guidelines and that is exactly what we have done. We have stuck to it.
After receiving reports from the public, officers were called to the outdoor event this weekend
On Saturday, police officers spoke with worshippers in Bulwell, Nottingham at the Top House pub carpark.
According to the event organizer, the services also help people in the community.
The event involves worshippers arriving in their cars to attend a church service before being fed outside.
“It is unfair, I just think.”
Ms Dyer of Thomas Close in St Ann’s claimed that the initial court hearing was to take place on September 17th, but there had been an “admin issue” with the court.
In February, police reported that they were called to investigate reports of an altercation at the pub.
Officers told guests to get in their cars and issued Ms Dyer with a summons to pay a £10,000 fine.
Tier 4 restrictions imposed a ban on all shops, hairdressers, and leisure and entertainment venues not essential.
The Government implemented a’stay at home message’ and banned households from mixing.
Only one person was permitted to meet outdoors in a public area.