Kyle Stephens: Alleged COVID quarantine breacher charged and refused bail

A Tasmanian man accused of going on the run after fleeing quarantine in Perth and his alleged accomplice have been charged and refused bail after being tracked down 1250km north of Perth.

Kyle Stephens travelled from Tasmania to Sydney, while the city was in lockdown, before catching a connecting flight to Perth on Thursday.

He was denied entry to WA and ordered to self isolate at a hotel before catching the first flight out of the state but WA Police issued a State-wide alert on Sunday, asking for the public’s help to locate the 32-year-old him after he went missing.

Police on Monday night announced they had found Mr Stephens near Nanutarra, about 40km south of Onslow in the Pilbara.

He has been charged with two counts of failing to comply with a direction and one count of giving false or misleading information.

He has been refused bail and is due to appear in the Karratha Magistrate’s Court today.

A 28-year-old man who was with Mr Stephens when he was found has also been charged with failing to comply with a direction and no authority to drive.

Police say the man attended Perth Airport to collect Mr Stephens and was told by police that he was subject to a quarantine direction and would not be allowed to remain in WA.

During the police search for Mr Stephens, the man allegedly told police he did not know where Mr Stephens was and could not help locate him.

The 28-year-old man was also refused bail and is due to appear in the same court today.