Lachlan James Thomas Peters: Dubbo teen spared conviction for Covid test lie

A teenager in regional NSW who ‘joked’ about having Covid triggering the temporary closure of a small business says he is sorry and regrets his actions.

A Dubbo teenager who sent a message pretending he had Covid to his mates as a “joke” has been spared a conviction in court.

Lachlan James Thomas Peters pleaded guilty to one count of making a false representation resulting in a police investigation, however the charge was dismissed.

Dubbo teen Lachlan Peters was spared a conviction. Picture: Facebook/Lachlan Roberts

In court documents, police said Mr Peters, a Western Parcel Express worker, sent a message to a group of his friends falsely claiming that he tested positive for Covid after he received a negative result on August 13.

While most of Mr Peters’s mates believed the message was a joke, one man did not and believing that he was a close contact, he showed the message to his employer at Dubbo City Welding.

Afterwards, the business sent workers to get Covid tests and had to shut down temporarily while staff isolated and awaited test results.

The owner of Dubbo City Welding reported Mr Peters’s conduct to police and he was charged.

In Dubbo Local Court on Monday, defence lawyer Geraldyne Keen said Mr Peters, who did not appear in court, had made a silly decision.

“He instructs me that he was joking around,” she said.

“He is 19, he’s just finished school.”

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said she had “a bit of a problem” with the charge police laid against Mr Peters

“As I read the facts, he didn’t make a false statement to police, he made it to his friends,” she said.

“I don’t know why this statement would have called for a police investigation.

“It just seems to me that it’s not a matter that would call for a police investigation … it’s an employment issue. It hurts my head to think about it.”

Covid testing lines at the Showground in Dubbo, which entered lockdown because of a Covid outbreak just two days before Lachlan Peters lied about his test result. Picture: Dean Marzolla

Police prosecutor Sergeant Michelle Bartlett said the police investigation took place because the Dubbo City Welding Works owner, who had to send workers home, had reported Mr Peters’s conduct to police.

Magistrate Hamilton said given Mr Peters pleaded guilty early and had no criminal history as an adult, he did not deserve to be convicted.

“He’s obviously take a joke too far and done something stupid

“He should not be convicted for this matter.

“I’m sure he’s learnt a lesson about the dangers of making these types of jokes.”

Dubbo Local Court magistrate Theresa Hamilton said Lachlan Peters did not deserve to be convicted. Picture: Ryan Young

After the verdict was handed down Mr Peters told The Dubbo News he regretted sending the fake Covid test result message and “it’s something you don’t joke about”.

“Only one of them took it seriously, the others knew it was a joke,” Mr Peters said.

“When I saw that he was in the testing line, because he sent me a photo on Snapchat, I was like “f*** what’s he doing there” and he said he showed his boss.

“I said ‘mate you know it was a joke’.”

While Mr Peters said he had not yet apologised directly to Dubbo City Welding, he was sorry for his actions.

“I’m sorry for the disruption and the loss of working time, as well as police resources and NSW Health resources,” he said.

“We live in a day and age where on social media you need to be careful what you post and say on it.”