Zara Holland flees Barbados after £4,500 fine for breaking Covid laws – leaving locked-up boyfriend behind

Andrew Pilgrim QC, Holland's lawyer, told MailOnline today: "Zara left Barbados last night. The fine has been paid and she was free to go."

The former Miss England, 25, kept a low profile as she boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight to Manchester at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

A month earlier she and Love were arrested attempting to flee after he tested positive for the virus.

A traveller who spotted her on the flight home said the islander looked "sheepish" and was trying to keep away from other passengers.

They added: "We were shocked to see her because we know her boyfriend is still being detained while he battles Covid. I’m amazed she’s left him behind."

Another holidaymaker reportedly saw the beauty queen scurrying out of the island's Hilton shortly after she appeared in court.

Love is still holed up inside Paragon Isolation Centre, he will have to test negative for coronavirus twice before he is allowed out.

Once he has recovered, it is expected he will then be charged with breaking the strict Covid rules and could face a fine of up to £18,000 or a year in jail.

Zara faced a judge yesterday, who spared her a jail sentence - but slapped her with a £4,500 fine.

She pleaded guilty to breaching Covid lockdown laws by "leaving quarantine without reasonable explanation" - a breach punishable by a year in prison and a fine of up to £18,000.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, known for his tough stance against Covid rule breakers, ordered Zara to pay a £4,417 fine ($12,000 Barbados dollars) within seven days or face nine months in prison,  reports.

Zara's lawyer, Andrew Pilgrim QC, said she had admitted her attempt to leave the country was "foolish".

He said she accepted "full responsibility" for her actions.

Zara and Elliott were both swabbed on arrival in Barbados and ordered to isolate at the £300-a-night beachfront Sugar Bay hotel - and when Elliott’s test came back positive, they made a run for it to avoid being quarantined.

After cops found the hotel room that they were supposed to be isolating in empty, Zara and Elliott, 30, were arrested by police at the airport.

Elliott was taken to the island’s Paragon military base, which has been converted into a Covid-19 quarantine centre, and Zara was ordered to isolate.

She was forced to check in to the £350-a-night Hilton after the owner of the Sugar Bay refused to allow her to return.