Apple, tangerines and pear costs granny €2,213

A British grandmother has been fined £1,500 for bringing seven pieces of fruit into Australia.

A British grandmother has been fined £1,500 (€2,213) for bringing seven pieces of fruit into Australia.

Customs officers came across five tangerines, an apple and a pear while searching the bags of June Froude, 66, at Perth International Airport.

Mrs Froude, who was making a round-the-world trip with her husband Peter to visit their daughter and grandson, was charged with breaching quarantine laws.

She appeared before magistrates in the city and was fined £1,500, according to newspapers.

Her sister-in-law Rita Froude said the couple, from Yatton, near Bristol, were tired after their long trip and not necessarily aware of the laws banning fruit.

She said: “It was a long journey and I suppose June thought fruit was something nice and fresh to eat. I don’t suppose they thought much about it.”

Speaking about the fine she said: “I think it’s a bit naughty but if that’s the law…”

The fine would have come as a “nasty shock” but would not spoil the couple’s six-week trip.

Paul O’Connor, regional director of customs in Western Australia, said Mrs Froude was convicted of making a false statement to customs officials and importing prohibited items.

He thought the punishment fitted the crime.

“The courts over here are taking a very tough view in regard to quarantine offences.

“We provide passengers with every opportunity to declare items to us and we go to great lengths to educate travellers as to what must be handed in.

“We run a very tough baggage examination regime with 100% of passengers’ hand luggage checked either physically or by X-ray.”

Any argument that Mrs Froude was tired or did not appreciate the rules was “not accepted” by the court.

He added the severity of the penalty reflected the court’s serious view on any risk to the strongly agricultural area from diseases such as foot and mouth.