Lorena Castro: Campsie woman charged after attending lockdown party

A woman from one of Sydney’s worst Covid hotspots will pay a heavy price after she was caught at a lockdown party outside curfew and her 5km radius – twice in one night.

A woman from one of Sydney’s worst Covid hotspots has been hit in the hip pocket after police caught her at a late night lockdown party outside curfew and her 5km radius twice in one night.

Lorena Castro, 30, faced Sutherland Local Court charged with failing to comply with Covid-19 public health orders after attending an illegal party on August 21.

Police attended a home on Willison Rd, Carlton after reports of a “possible party and breach of Covid restrictions” at 9.15pm that day.

“Police entered the property and witnessed nine people, including the accused, breaching public health orders regarding Covid-19,” agreed police facts tendered to the court state.

“The accused was infringed with not complying with the public health orders and given the direction to return to her address.”

Sydney’s lockdown remained in full force at the time, with house guests outside intimate partners and single bubble buddies forbidden.

As a resident of Campsie, in the Canterbury Bankstown local government area, Castro was then also subject to a curfew preventing her from leaving home after 9pm or travelling outside a 5km radius from her home.

Lorena Castro, 30, was charged with breaching Covid-19 public health orders by attending a party in lockdown.

“About 4am, police witnessed the accused walking down the street and re-entering the household,” agreed police facts state.

“The police stood outside and flashed their torch – the accused opened the door before closing the door and peeking through the blinds at police.”

Castro initially told police she had returned to collect something she had forgotten, then changed her story and said she lived at the address.

“The tenant confirmed to police she does not live at the location,” agreed police facts state.

Castro was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to the offence.

Magistrate Joy Boulos described her actions as “disturbing”.

“You were living in a hotspot but you were having a party,” Ms Boulos said to Castro.

“You’ve travelled from Campsie to Carlton, while the rest of us were abiding by curfews and staying at home to reduce the spread so we can all party once the restrictions are gone – what do you do? It’s selfish, absolutely selfish.”

Ms Boulos fined Castro $1000 in addition to the infringement notice she had already received from police when they first arrived at the Carlton residence.