A nail salon owner has been fined £1,000 after she was caught breaking lockdown rules in January to give customers treatments.
Natalie Hewitt, 32, denied breaching Covid-19 restrictions by not closing her salon Smooch Nails and Beauty in Wrexham, Wales when the area was placed in an alert level four lockdown.
But the beautician was caught in the act by a council worker who walked past the window and saw her ‘painting the nails’ of one woman, whilst two others sat nearby.
David Gregory, the public protection officer for Hewitt was convicted at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court. He claimed that Gregory saw the Hewitt lockdown violation through the transparent glass.
Beauty salon owner Natalie Hewitt, 32, (pictured) denied breaching Covid-19 restrictions by not closing her salon Smooch Nails and Beauty in Wrexham, Wales
Wrexham magistrates heard from the beautician that she was caught on camera by a council worker. The worker walked up to the window and noticed her “painting nails” of one woman. Two others were sitting nearby.
Gregory stated that there was someone directly in front of Gregory and two women on the other side.
In January of this year, Hewitt did not answer the court’s request to explain why Mr Gregory had knocked at his door.
He stated, “I stood aside. The other three must have moved in the back room.”
Hewitt (pictured) pleaded not guilty to breaching Covid-19 regulations by failing to close her salon but was fined was £1,000
Wrexham magistrates heard Mr Gregory call police for assistance. However, two PCSOs arrived but Hewitt insisted on denying them entry.
Lance Montagu, PCSO, said that Hewitt was “obstructive”, shaking her head and speaking through the window.
Hewitt, representing herself, denied there was anyone else in the shop. She claimed that she was merely ‘decorating’ and ‘cleaning’.
She claimed that Mr Gregory refused her permission to enter the room because she had been there alone, and that Gregory was aggressive in his approach.
She denied also that she was asked by the PCSOs to open the doors.
Hewitt from Buckley, Flintshire, in Wales, has pleaded not guilty for violating Covid-19 regulations, failing to shut down her salon.
But she was convicted by magistrates and fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 prosecution costs.
Celia Jenkins was the chair of the bench. She stated that she found no basis for refusing to allow the door to be opened. Celia Jenkins, chair of the bench said: ‘We find no justification for you refusing to open the door. We found your conduct contrary to Covid-19 regulations.