'Naive' man from one of Sydney's worst Covid hotspots is JAILED for two months for taking train and bus to travel 800km to regional NSW
A 'naive' southwestern Sydney man who travelled more than 800km in breach of COVID-19 restrictions has been jailed.
Trong Duc Nguyen, 31, was arrested at Armidale railway station on Sunday after getting off a bus from Tenterfield.
The Cabramatta man had travelled from his home in the Fairfield local government area to the northern tablelands earlier that week by train via Newcastle.
His trip - which brought him within 20 kilometres of the Queensland border - was uncovered by police conducting daily checks on public transport passengers at Armidale.
Trong Duc Nguyen, 31, was arrested at Armidale railway station on Sunday after getting off a bus from Tenterfield (pictured, the town of Armidale)
The former personal trainer faced an Armidale court on Monday and pleaded guilty to breaching the public health order concerning travelling outside metropolitan Sydney.
Magistrate Roger Prowse immediately sentenced the Sydney man to two months in prison.
'He has been sentenced purely on breaching that public health act,' NSW Police Acting Superintendent David Cooper said.
'That, to me, indicates the level of seriousness of the matter.'
Solicitor Peter Kemp denied his client acted out of malice but noted people in regional areas were 'petrified' of catching COVID.
The Cabramatta man had travelled from his home in the Fairfield local government area to the northern tablelands earlier that week by train via Newcastle
Trong Duc Nguyen travelled from his home in the Fairfield local government area which has been plagued by hundreds of coronavirus cases
'(The behaviour) was not arrogant, it was not done maliciously,' he said.
'My client was quite naive and is sorry for what he did.'
The Fairfield local government area is a focal point of Sydney's Covid-19 outbreak and the suburb of Cabramatta had 117 active cases on Tuesday, making it one of the most highly concentrated coronavirus postcodes in Sydney.
Armidale was placed into lockdown on August 7 after two cases were recorded in the community.
Two further cases have since been reported.
Armidale was placed into lockdown on August 7 after two cases were recorded in the community