Published 10:45 IST, April 2nd 2020
UK man jailed for 6 months after he coughed on a cop and threatened to infect him
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, a UK man who coughed at a police officer and threatened to infect him with the virus has been jailed for six months.
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Amidst coronavirus pandemic, a man who coughed at a police officer in United Kingdom and threatened to infect him with coronavirus has been sentenced to six months in jail. According to reports, incident occurred on April 1 and man was sentenced under a law that was introduced in 2018 and deals with assault against emergency workers.
According to reports, am Lewis, 55, was stopped by officers when he was seen trying door handles of cars in central London on March 31. After being stopped, Lewis allegedly turned violent and smashed a bottle of wine he was carrying on floor. n accused proceeded to verbally threaten police officers by mitting that he was COVID-19 positive and that he would cough on officers.
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According to reports, London's Metropolitan Police in a statement have said that Lewis in dition to coughing on police officer tried to spit on officers, as well as bite m. Lewis was promptly arrested and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 1.
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Deliberately coughed
In a similar incident, a woman in rwich, England has been jailed for 12 weeks after she deliberately coughed on an officer’s face. During act, woman claimed that she has been tested positive for coronavirus. According to reports, Joanne Turner, 35, became abusive and argumentative when she was confronted by officers for kicking and damaging a car parked outside rwich train station.
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As per reports, incident took place on March 25 and on March 26 Turner ple guilty in court to assaulting an officer. Turner also mitted to being drunk and disorderly during exchange. For her actions, she was jailed for 12 weeks. According to reports, Chief Superintendent Dave Marshall has claimed that assaulting emergency workers at any time is a serious offence but 12-week sentence handed out to Turner is a reflection of seriousness of threat posed by coronavirus and threats or action of deliberately coughing in someone’s direction.
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Marshall furr ded that hopefully, this harsh sentence serves as a clear warning to anyone that chooses to behave in this manner during a crisis.
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10:45 IST, April 2nd 2020