RED MENACE
THE Brit dragged from a Tenerife pool amid a coronavirus lockdown has been identified as a Jeremy Corbyn ally and former Labour parliamentary candidate.
Joanne Rust, 53, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, was arrested last week after Spanish police were forced to jump into a pool at the Paradise Park Hotel in Los Cristianos and remove her.
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The arrest came after she had declined requests by staff at the resort to leave the pool and return to her room.
Footage of the incident showed fellow holidaymakers looking on and clapping as Rust was led away by police.
Rust is a Unison campaign organiser who stood as the Labour Party's candidate in Norfolk North-West in December's election.
She also holds a seat on King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council.
Speaking to Sun Online, Rust acknowledged that her behaviour had been "foolish", but said the exact restrictions had not been made clear by hotel staff or Spanish authorities.
"We thought there had been a lockdown, but it was a state of emergency. That's a very different thing," she said.
“When we arrived at the hotel, they said, ‘You can use all the facilities, but leaving the resort itself is difficult.'
“We then received very different communications about when we could and couldn’t use different places.
"But there was still entertainment on, so all told it was not a bad place to be."
She also provided a photo she said was taken at 11pm on March 15, the night she arrived at the hotel, showing a public area full of guests at close quarters.
“Nowhere were there signs saying, ‘This is a national state of emergency’, which there were at the hotel we later moved to," she said.
“The idea that everyone was already in isolation in their rooms is absolutely untrue.
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“There were people on the sun terrace, and going down to the restaurant to get drinks, and in the reception.
"I just thought, 'I’ll go for a swim before I get locked in a small room'.
“Even in Britain it's not been clear what we’re allowed to do. Is it that surprising that people travelling abroad wouldn’t be cognisant of what exactly you can do and can’t?”
Rust also said that she apologised to the judge when she appeared in court, and that she was released without charge, not bailed, as has been reported.
The incident came days after Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced a 15-day state of emergency, restricting people's movement across the country.
Schools as well as many cinemas and theatres were closed, and tourists were asked to limit their movements.
Spain has been one of the countries in Europe worst hit by the coronavirus, and currently has over 35,000 cases confirmed.
'I WAS LEFT IN A CELL IN MY BIKINI'
Rust went on to criticise her treatment by Spanish police following her arrest.
“If they’d said, ‘Look, Mrs. Rust, you’re going to have to get out', with the benefit of hindsight, I’d have thought, 'Yeah, okay’.
“But they were very hostile.
"I was scared, and I foolishly thought, if I stay in the pool they can’t get me.
“It’s been reported my husband had to bring my dry clothes to the police station. He didn’t, because he didn’t even know where I was.
“I was handcuffed and left in a police cell in a bikini for hours before they took me out and gave me dry clothes."
The coronavirus has infected more than 380,000 people worldwide and killed more than 16,500 since an outbreak began in December.
Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson aligned with leaders across Europe and elsewhere by declaring a lockdown across the UK.
Responding to news of Rust's arrest, a UNISON spokesperson said: "There is no excuse for reckless behaviour. We're extremely disappointed to learn that the widely shared video features a member of UNISON staff.
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"Now the UK has also gone into lockdown, we must all abide by the rules. Irresponsible behaviour will spread the virus and place an intolerable burden on the NHS.
"Health workers are on the front line trying to save lives. By staying home we can all do our bit and help keep them safe too."
The Labour Party has also been approached for comment.
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