BBC DJ only ‘loaned’ her speakers for lockdown rave

A BBC radio DJ has been fined £1,000 for breaking covid rules by ‘lending’ her speakers for a warehouse rave days after a four-week lockdown was announced.

Maressa Innerarity, 33, allowed friends to borrow her equipment for a party at a Poyser Street warehouse in east London early in the morning of 8 November 2020.

A resident at a nearby tower block reported noise to the police around midnight and officers broke up the party.

Innerarity, a former teacher was issued a fixed penalty notice, but she told police at the scene she had allowed friends to use her speakers.

She said she remained at the ‘squat party’ to make sure her equipment was not damaged.

Police estimates of the number of partygoers ranged from 60 to over 200 people, the court heard.

The rave was held five days before an alleged Downing Street flat party that took place as Boris Johnson’s chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, and communications director, Lee Cain, left their roles.

Prosecutor Nathan Paine-Davey said: ‘On 8 November police were called to 263 Poyser Street as a result of a complaint of noise from a resident of a Poyser Street block of flats, they believed there was some sort of gathering going on.

‘When police arrived they met with local officers, they could hear loud music coming from the address and there were approximately 60 people on the street.

‘Police entered the building and stopped the unlicensed event.

‘Police estimated there were about 180 people in the premises.

‘It was described as a squat, it is a warehouse, the building.

‘Ms Innerarity accepts at the scene that the music equipment was hers, and she was warned she may be prosecuted under the regulations.’

Eric Kabuye, for Innerarity, said: ‘She was approached by two people, Gabriel and Jamal, and she was asked if they could borrow her speakers.

‘She accepted, she packed them into the car, and drove them to the venue.

‘When she arrived at the premises it was empty. As people started to arrive she raised a cause for concern.

‘She was not paid for the the event and she stayed to ensure the equipment was brought back safety.”

He added: “There was only limited noise.”

To which Judge Timothy Godfrey interrupted: ‘Not limited enough to stop neighbours calling police.”

The judge then asked: ‘What did she think the equipment was going to be used for?’

Mr Kabuye added: ‘She stayed around, she was not paid at all, she did not gain anything from this event.

‘She is a DJ, but she was not the Disk Jockey on the day.’

District Godfrey told Innerarity: ‘This was during the national lockdown in November (2020) of which you were aware, as was everyone.

‘It was in clear breach of lockdown.

‘It is hard to imagine an event more likely to spread Covid.

‘It is not only your own health that you risk, it is the health and wellbeing of others.

‘Those who organised and attended this event were acting in the most selfish way.

‘I must accept that you did not know the full scale of the event.’

She was fined £1000, ordered to pay £100 of prosecution costs, and a £100 statutory surcharge.

Judge Godfrey also imposed a deprivation order for the speakers, stands, and the controller.

Five days after the party Downing Street staff held their own illegal rave at No.10.

Ms Innerarity, who performs under the stage name Carmen London, has also presented takeover shows on BBC Radio 1xtra, held a residency at the Notting Hill Carnival, and DJed for Afroswingm music artist Kojo Funds.

Innerarity, of Wandsworth, southwest London, admitted holding or being involve in holding a rave type gathering of more than 30 people indoors, contrary to regulations of the Coronavirus Health Protection Regulations 2020.