A mature student breached curfew regulations after he made a late-night visit to a friend to get help with college work.

Michael Taylor, 66 was fined $3,000 after he pleaded guilty to the offence at a remote session of Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Tine Tucker, for the prosecution, told the court that Taylor was stopped by police at about 12.30am on January 31 on his motorcycle on Middle Road in Paget.

The court heard Taylor told police that he did not realise it was past curfew.

Taylor, who appeared on a video link from Hamilton Police Station, said that he was taking an online course at the Juilliard School for the performing arts in New York.

He said he had needed to submit an assignment, but was forced to leave home to get help after he had computer trouble.

He said: “It’s a very rigorous course, and if I didn’t hand in the assignments, I wouldn’t get credited.”

Taylor, who has no previous convictions, said he rode to a friend’s house for help to send the course work.

He added: “I was on my way home when I got stopped, and the officer seemed to give me just a warning.

“I have full respect for the law, and the next thing I know, I get a citation from the court.”

Elizabeth Christopher, for the defence, highlighted that Taylor had not deliberately broken the then-midnight to 5am curfew.

But magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said that was not a valid reason for breaking the law.

He told Taylor: “I don’t think that matters – it’s not a reasonable excuse.”

Taylor was given until the end of June to pay the fine.

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