Pretended to cough over customers

CHRISTCHURCH: A former Dunedin man who filmed himself coughing on supermarket shoppers in Christchurch has admitted offensive behaviour — and apologised for his ‘‘foolish act’’.

Raymond Coombs (38) had his second video appearance in the Christchurch District Court yesterday afternoon.

He was remanded in custody yesterday morning until the results of a Covid19 test were in. He tested negative.

Coombs was initially facing charges of criminal nuisance and failing to follow a Medical Officer of Health’s orders.

The criminal nuisance charge was amended to one of offensive behaviour and the other was dropped.

Coombs pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour and was convicted.

He told the court he wanted to apologise to the court and the community.

‘‘It was a foolish insensitive act, and I regret it — I really do.’’

Coomb’s lawyer said he had been watching prank videos on YouTube before he recorded the footage of himself pretending to cough on fellow shoppers at the Barrington Fresh Choice.

Judge Jane McMeeken said he owed the whole country an apology, describing the incident as a serious one. And this was not an isolated incident.

Judge McMeeken said that on March 31 he uploaded a video where he pretended he had the virus and told viewers how awful it was.

‘‘At the time you behaved in this appalling fashion you had no way of knowing whether you really had the virus,’’ the judge said.

‘‘This is an unprecedented time in New Zealand’s history . . . many people are suffering.

‘‘Your behaviour would’ve added to that suffering.

‘‘It’s vitally important to our country we get out of lockdown as soon as possible. Your actions could’ve stopped that.’’

Judge McMeeken has deferred sentencing until May 19 and Coombs was released on bail.

He has been ordered not to access the internet until then, apart from Facebook Messenger messages to family and friends.

But Judge McMeeken says his family may not want to talk to him. — The New Zealand Herald

❛ It’s vitally important to our country we get out of lockdown as soon as possible. Your actions could’ve stopped that