Student, 19, fined £10,000 for 50-person house party makes grovelling apology

A student who was fined £10,000 for throwing a 'reckless' 50-person house party has apologised in a grovelling letter written to neighbours.

Stuart Hawk, 19, organised the 'foolish' bash at his home which he shares with five other students in Lenton, Nottingham on Friday night.

The Nottingham University politics student said it was meant to be a "small" garden party with 25 people, but about 50 showed up through the night.

After angered neighbours reported the event, council community protection officers and police visited the home at just after 10pm, which resulted in Mr Hawk being given the hefty fine under new laws.

Mr Hawk, who previously attended the £30,000 per year Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire, wrote to neighbours yesterday to apologise for a "major lapse of judgement".

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He told MailOnline: "We don't want to talk about what happened. It has all been a big shock.

"Of course we would all like to apologise to any neighbour who might have been offended."

The student, who according to his social media is from South Africa, called the gathering "foolish" in the letter.

The letter reads: "With two housemates turning 21 recently, we were hoping to have a celebration that stayed within the guidelines of the current covid-19 regulations, however it quickly became out of hand as more than the initial 25 invited friends arrived at our house.

"It was never our intention to disrupt your evening. It was a major lapse of judgement on our end given both the disturbance we caused as well as the current pandemic that is taking a toll on our society."

The party at the student house started at around 7pm on Friday, and groups of revellers arrived in taxis or on foot.

Nottinghamshire Police said around 50 people at the address were all ordered to leave, before the host was given a fine.

The force claims the teen was given the chance to shut down the party before he was fined.

It's understood the fine will be split between the six members of the student house Mr Hawk is living in.

One of the six students spoke to NottinghamshireLive on Saturday and apologised, saying: "It was meant to be a small gathering with mates and it got out of hand.

"We had invited 25 people and it was out in the garden and aimed to end at 11pm and we were trying to social distance but then people invited their mates and so on.

"It got out of hand and we are really sorry."

Public health bosses in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have said the biggest increase in new Covid-19 cases was in the 18-35 category. There has been a steep rise in cases amongst young people across England.

In Lenton, neighbours said they have been forced to endure house parties in the area, which is close to the University of Nottingham, for years.

Kate Loewenthal, chair of the Lenton Drives and Neighbours Residents' Association, said locals want to ensure the virus does not spread.

She said: "I would never wish this £10,000 fine on anyone but there has to be a message that goes out. It is about saving lives.

"A lot of them that did disperse from this party will go on to other parties and it could spread. I was really impressed with the police response.

"It started quite early and we saw people from 7pm, which was unusual. There was a few taxis but it was mainly footfall."

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: "A 19-year-old man has been issued with the hefty fine after he allowed more than 50 people to attend a party at his home on Harlaxton Drive, Lenton, on Friday evening.

"This comes just days before new rules come in force whereby only six people can meet at any one time.

"Now officers are warning others thinking of hosting parties this weekend ahead of the changes to think again or face the consequences.

"Neighbours reported the house party to Nottinghamshire Police at around 10.20pm.

"Community Protection Officers from Nottingham City Council initially attended but were met with hostility from the organiser and so police were called to assist.

"Officers found around 50 people in the address who were all ordered to leave. The occupant was later issued with the fine. If he fails to pay or contests this fine he will appear before a court.

"The law recently changed to allow forces to impose bigger fines in response to increased reports of unlawful gatherings and unlicensed music events which are putting people’s lives in danger due to the current pandemic."