Droitwich card shop owner who overturned £35k lockdown fine now closing for good - Birmingham Live

Grace Cards & Books in Droitwich remained open during lockdown, arguing it was exempt from closure rules

The owner of a card shop who was handed huge fines after controversially refusing to close during lockdown is now shutting the store for good. Alasdair Walker-Cox, who runs Grace Cards & Books in Droitwich, was prosecuted after he remained open amid claims the store was exempt from rules covering non-essential shops because it sold food and some publications.

In a video shared widely on social media in February 2021, Mr Walker-Cox's wife Lydia was seen challenging a council official and a police officer over their decision to keep the shop open. The business was fined four times for its stance and Mr Walker-Cox was convicted of breaching lockdown rules and fined £35,000 with just under £9,000 costs after a trial at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court last August.

In February of this year however, Mr Walker-Cox won an appeal against both his conviction and sentence, with the judge admitting that the coronavirus rules at the time were 'open to interpretation'. Despite his victory in the courtroom, the card shop owner has revealed that they are now closing the store for good.

READ MORE: Card shop boss who refused to close during lockdown wins appeal over £35k fine

A post on Grace Cards & Books' Facebook page on April 15 read: "Hello everyone! Most of you will know that we are sadly closing down at the end of April.

"We would like to invite you to pay us a last visit (or two!) and pick up some bargains at our closing down sale, which starts on Monday (April 18) with up to 50 per cent off EVERYTHING. Hopefully see you soon."

Lydia Walker-Cox told the Bromsgrove Advertiser : "We are just really closing because business has been getting worse and worse for the last 10 years. The lockdowns have escalated that and people have been pushed to shop online more than ever."

Several customers reacted to the shock announcement with sadness. Eileen Swift Lloyd said: "We are very sorry to hear you are closing down, the best card (etc) shop in Droitwich.

"Shame on all the people who treated you so badly. Good luck in any future venture."

Ruby Siddle added: "Very sorry to hear that, you have always been part of Droitwich as long as we have lived here 30 years. All the best to you all."

Other shoppers were previously less sympathetic towards Mr Walker-Cox following his decision to remain open during lockdown. After the appeal hearing, Marilyn Booth said: "Disappointing result, sends completely the wrong message."

"I'll never support the shop again," Clare Louise Bowen said. "A lot of shops lost a lot of money, some even had to close, but they get away with it. Not right at all."

During the appeal hearing in February, Mr Walker-Cox argued that the shop sold a small number of food products, such as cake supplies, and so could be classed as an essential business. "You either sell food or you don't sell food," he said. "If you want a sandwich, you go out and buy a sandwich. If you want a cake, you go and buy cake ingredients."

Summing up its case, the prosecution argued it was 'crystal clear' his business was not a food retailer or a newsagent and so could not be classed as an essential business which could have remained open. But judge James Burbidge QC agreed with Mr Walker-Cox's defence, saying: "We allow his appeal against his conviction and sentence."

He said the lockdowns were 'difficult times' and the coronavirus rules were 'open to interpretation'. He added: "We won't criticise the local authority for bringing this case."