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Man who breached lockdown for butter chicken gets year's supply of dish

A man who copped a whopping $1652 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions to visit his favourite Indian restaurant has been given a year’s worth of free butter chicken.

On Saturday, the hungry Melburnian drove more than 30km from Werribee into the city all to get a “specific butter chicken”, according to police.

The story made headlines 10,000km away - with the Times of India revealing the man’s identity as 48-year-old construction worker Noel Atkinson.

Noel Atkinson said he plans to contest the $1652 fine handed to him by police. Source: Times of India
Noel Atkinson said he plans to contest the $1652 fine handed to him by police. Source: Times of India

“Since it was after 11pm all restaurants in my area were closed and I wanted to have butter chicken,” Mr Atkinson told the publication.

“I finally found one restaurant that was open but there was no home delivery to my place due to the distance. So I decided to go there.”

Mr Atkinson said police didn’t find his excuse a good enough reason to leave home.

“I told police I was out to buy food but was ordered to go home. Cops followed me for some time to make sure I was headed back,” he said.

The restaurant behind Mr Atkinson’s cravings, Desi Dhaba, has offered to soften the blow of the fine by providing free butter chicken for a year - once the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Mr Atkinson said he plans to contest his fine as he doesn’t think the rules “are clear on how far a person is allowed to travel for food or takeaway”.

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