Man who snuck out of quarantine 'missed girlfriend', 'wanted food'
A Perth man who repeatedly broke out of coronavirus quarantine to visit his girlfriend could become the first person in Australia to be jailed for the offence.
Jonathan David, 35, will learn his fate tomorrow after admitting to leaving Perth's Travelodge hotel on two occasions this month.
The concreter flew in from Victoria on March 27 and was under a strict order to isolate for 14 days.
But the father-of-two was spotted outside his room at least five times before hotel staff notified police.
Jonathan David said he breached coronavirus quarantine because he missed his girlfriend. 9News
Even after officers caught him in the act, David snuck out again that night and caught a train to his partner's house in Armadale.
He was busted returning to his room the following morning.
David's lawyer told the court he was originally meant to be quarantining at his girlfriend's house but they had an argument after two days and police moved him to a hotel.
The man was brought to the Travelodge in Perth to complete his mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Nine
He claims he eventually snuck out because he "missed" her and wanted "to get food".
Prosecutors described his actions as "selfish and extreme" - which resulted in David finishing his isolation behind bars.
Under WA's new coronavirus laws, he could be jailed for up to 12 months or fined a maximum of $50,000.
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