Owner of Quinn Blakey Hairdressing, which was open in lockdown, could be hit with 'unlimited fine'

Kirklees Council confirmed Sinead Quinn, who owns Quinn Blakey Hairdressing in Oakenshaw has not paid any of the Fixed Penalty Notices - totalling £17,000 - and that it has started a prosecution process.

Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment, said this evening: “To date, all of the Fixed Penalty Notices issued to the hairdressers for not complying with lockdown rules, remain unpaid.

“These lockdown rules, set by Government, exist to keep people safe by preventing the spread of Covid-19. Blatantly disregarding them in this way was irresponsible.

“With the time given to pay the fines now passed, we have started a prosecution process and are currently putting our case together. This process can take some time and could potentially lead to a trial. Punishment could be an unlimited fine, decided by the court.”

Ms Quinn has previously cited the Magna Carta and common law in defence of staying open and displayed this notice on the door of her business. 

A sign in the window of Quinn Blakey Hairdressers. Picture: PA

Practicing barrister and best-selling writer The Secret Barrister debunked such a defence last year, labelling them "pure nonsense".

In a blog post, they said the "pseudo-legal rubbish" is regularly seen in courts by people "who believe that by misquoting Magna Carta and basic tenets of contract law, they can somehow place themselves outside the jurisdiction of the law of England & Wales".

Magistrates ordered the closure of the salon for the final two days of the last lockdown, which ended on December 2 “to prevent nuisance to members of the public and to safeguard public health”.

In November, she set up a Go Fund Me Page, which has raised more than £7,400 to date.

It says: "By no means do I think the council will be successful in trying to extort money from me. I am simply doing this so that people don’t take it upon themselves to create a gofundme on my behalf and possibly run off with the money.

"I’m confident in the fact we will win this fight, so in that case the money will go to my amazing brother who is fighting himself against Stage 4 bowel cancer, he was diagnosed in August 2020 and he’s 36 years old with a wife and 2 children. He is an amazing soul and he gives me the confidence to fight every single day. He is my best friend and I wouldn’t be able to do this without him."

"Here’s to 2021 - my brother cancer-free and standing up for our rights and taking our freedoms back. 

"POWER TO THE PEOPLE."

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Ms Quinn for a comment.