A mum-of-three is facing charges and a £10,000 after a gathering which saw mourners release balloons into the sky in memory of her dad-in-law.
Vicki Hutchinson, 34, stands accused of breaching lockdown rules in Peterlee, County Durham, while it was a Tier 4 area on November 14 last year.
Family and friends had congregated in a church field to pay tribute to former miner Ian Stephenson, 58, who tragically died of Covid-19 earlier in the month, the mum says.
Ms Hutchinson is accused of holding a get-together with more than 30 people after her Facebook account was used to invite Ian's loved ones to release balloons into the sky.
But she denies being the organiser of the event and has branded the charges "absolutely disgusting".
The mum told TeessideLive the charges "don't make sense" and that thousands of friends and relatives lined the streets for Ian's funeral days later.
Ms Hutchinson, whose partner James, 30, is Mr Stephenson's son, found a letter on her doormat this week explaining she has been charged to appear at Peterlee Magistrates' Court next month.
The maximum fine for the offence is £10,000, but the defiant mum-of-three has said "I'm not paying you anything."
She said: "I understand we were in tier four but to hit a family who have just lost their father, how are you expecting families to pay these sort of fines?
"I asked people to social distance and wear a mask, I thought if everybody was distanced I didn't see what the problem would be.
"They fill supermarkets up. I thought with it being outside there was lots of social distancing on a massive field at St Mary's Church.
"I'm not paying you anything. There's lots of people out there struggling, businesses have been locked down left, right and centre, James has lost his dad and you want to take £10,000 off people.
"I think it's absolutely horrendous."
Ms Hutchinson said she plans to plead not guilty, adding: "People have parties and get a £200 fine, I have done something for someone who has just passed away and we get a £10,000 one, how does that work out?"
Peterlee Magistrates' Court confirmed Ms Hutchinson is listed to appear in court next month.
Durham Police has been contacted for comment.