Two men will face trial this summer for allegedly organising a rave during the second lockdown in November.

Robert Bagot from Ilford and Henok Yerfu from Leyton, both 32, are accused of helping organising an event in Deptford, south London on November 22.

During this point, England was under its second lockdown, and holding or being involved with an indoor event of more than 30 people could mean a maximum fine of £10,000.

Both men accept being present at the rave, but deny organising the gathering.

City of London Magistrates’ Court heard that one of the issues in the case will be whether lending sound equipment to the rave would meet the definition of being organisers of the event.

Their trial is listed for a day-long hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 19.

Magistrate Andrew Hammond suggested the trial should be given a longer time slot than usual, due to the fact both solicitors and magistrates are “unfamiliar with this (coronavirus) legislation”.

This case was one of 63 cases of coronavirus legislation breaches listed at the court today (February 26).

Other defendants included Jessica Cosson, 28, from Romford, who was issued a fine for remaining in Borough Market with a friend after being told to leave by police on November 18.

Cosson told the court she had been moving house at the time and asked for the fixed penalty notice to be sent to her work address.

She missed the deadline to pay and was issued a court summons because her office was closed and she was unable to collect her post.

Ordering her to pay a fine and court costs of £319, Mr Hammond said: “These are extraordinary times we are living through and the pandemic and lockdown are matters of literal life and death to some people.

“Those who do not comply and do not follow the instructions of the police when told to go home risk the safety and wellbeing of others.”

Many of the 43 defendants told to attend court for 10am on Friday morning failed to turn up, although some entered guilty pleas via email and another was suffering Covid-19 symptoms.

Days devoted entirely to offences under Covid-19 legislation could potentially become a regular event at City of London Magistrates’ Court, similar to the way it has previously been used to prosecute Extinction Rebellion protesters.