Man who breached hotel quarantine in Hobart identified as Tim Gunn

The man who breached hotel quarantine in Hobart and sent half a state into lockdown has been named — with his criminal past revealed. FULL REPORT >>

THE Covid-positive man who escaped hotel quarantine and triggered a three-day lockdown of southern Tasmania was jailed interstate for drug offences earlier this year, it can be revealed.

Tim Gunn can be identified as the man who allegedly absconded from hotel quarantine on Monday night after flying into Hobart Airport from a high-risk area without the permission to do so.

He was then picked up by police on Tuesday afternoon after allegedly spending about 18 hours in the community, before testing positive to Covid-19 on Wednesday.

He has been fined more than $3100 for breaching quarantine, but Premier Peter Gutwein on Saturday said he had asked Tasmania Police to consider what other penalties were available, and promised to “throw the book” at the man.

Tasmanian Government Covid update at Hobart, Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Chris Kidd

The Mercury can confirm that in July, the 31-year-old faced Albury Local Court in NSW after pleading guilty to possessing a prohibited drug.

That court was told Mr Gunn had been beaten and given an hour to pay off a $400 drug debt.

Court documents showed Mr Gunn knocked on the door of his mother’s home about 5am that day, and she let him in because his face was bleeding.

He then asked for $400 and she gave it to him.

Mr Gunn was later found walking on a South Albury street and was busted with 0.5g of ice.

He was jailed for four months and was due to be released from prison in September.

Tasmanian authorities have said the alleged escapee was not being cooperative with them about his movements while he was out of quarantine.

On Saturday morning at a livestreamed press conference, Mr Gutwein said it only took one individual to do the wrong thing to impact on everyone else.

A man is transferred to the Fountainside Accomodation in Hobart. Picture Eddie Safarik

“I’ve expressed to Tasmania Police that the sum of the fine that this individual has received at the moment simply doesn’t appear to be in line with the crime,’’ he said.

“This is a breach that has brought southern Tasmania to a standstill and I’ve requested that they consider what other action could be taken against this person as well as anyone who has been an accomplice to the escape in the first instance.

“We’re very strong ... in light of the circumstances that we’re in that we should throw the book at people who flaunt our rules and send a very strong signal that this is just simply not on.

“In this case, we have a system of Good to Go passes, the person was rejected and then still turned up, and then set about leaving quarantine arrangements and has now put southern Tasmania into this stay at home period for three days and dislocated so many people’s lives.

Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Donna Adams. Picture: Chris Kidd

“I’ve asked Tasmania Police to consider all avenues to ensure that the book can be thrown at this individual.”

Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Donna Adams said further investigations would occur once the Public Health response to the situation finished.

“What Tasmania Police will do is we’ll allow the Public Health response to conclude, and then we will examine all the circumstances around the male’s actions and activities in coming into the state,’’ she said.

“If there’s other examples of offending, Tasmania Police will certainly take action.

“Tasmania Police has the option of putting this man before the court and summonsing him for any breaches, and the law allows the presiding magistrate to impose a $17,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment.”

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Originally published as Man who breached hotel quarantine in Hobart identified as Tim Gunn