A MAN who travelled nearly 200 miles to buy a car during the lockdown has been fined hundreds of pounds.

Florin Nicolae, 44, was found to have travelled from Crewe in Cheshire to Orsett back on March 25.

He told officers he had made the journey to buy a new car – this was deemed non-essential travel under the Covid rules.

Nicolae, of Wood Street, also admitted he had travelled via Ilford to pick up four people who were inside his vehicle when he was stopped by police.

All four people were from separate bubbles – a further breah of the restrictions.

Nicolae was fined £660 by Chelmsford Magistrates Court last week during a hearing.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £156.