Three men have been jailed for coughing, spitting or threatening to infect people – including police officers – with coronavirus.
West Midlands Police released shocking audio and video footage of officers being threatened during arrests, and said they were issuing it as a “stark warning” to those using coronavirus “as a weapon”.
On Monday, a teenager was jailed for six months after threatening to spit in a female officer’s face as she detained him over an alleged road rage incident in Coventry, police said.
He resisted arrest and suggested he had Covid-19 symptoms before threatening to cough and spit at the officer.
Wilson, from Hepworth Road, Binley, was charged with possessing an offensive weapon, a public order offence, assault by spitting at the lorry driver, and assaulting an emergency services worker.
On the same day another man, Bevan Burke, was jailed after he spat at a shopkeeper who had banned him from the store for shoplifting.
Police said Burke stormed into Allen’s Croft Post Office in Northfield, Birmingham, on April 3 and spat at the victim, shouting: “I have corona … you’re going to die.”
The 22-year-old was arrested later that day, and while being transported to police custody began coughing and blowing towards officers and again said: “I’ve got confirmed coronavirus and now you’ve got it. I hope you and your family die.”
Meanwhile, a 54-year-old man was also given a prison sentence on Monday for spitting in the face of a West Midlands Police officer in Birmingham city centre.
Officers attended a petrol station in Corporation Street at 9.45pm on April 4 following reports of a drunk man causing problems, pouring fuel on the floor and obstructing traffic.
Anthony Evans, of no fixed address but originally from Atherstone in Warwickshire, tried kicking out at them and, as they detained him, spat in an officer’s face.
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Danny Long welcomed the tough stance by the courts.
He said: “It’s completely unacceptable for people to behave in this way against officers, other emergency services staff, key workers or indeed any member of the public.
“At a time of heightened concern across the whole country, a minority of people are using the threat of coronavirus as a weapon.
“It won’t be tolerated and offenders have now been sent a clear warning: there is the very real risk you will be sent to prison.”
