SPAT AT COPS AND SAID SHE HAD COVID-19
Teen jailed as calls for tougher penalties increase
A TEENAGER is beginning a jail sentence after spitting at police and telling them she had coronavirus.
The actions of Kelsey Gouldie were described as “filthy and despicable” as she was sentenced to six months in prison.
The 19-year-old from Holyhead pleaded guilty to a Section 39 assault, breaching Covid-19 regulations as well as assaulting an emergency worker while in custody in Caernarfon.
North Wales Police Inspector Neil Jones said: “Far too frequently, officers are the subject of assaults in the custody suite, where those who have been arrested think it is acceptable to behave in a dangerous and violent manner.
“With the added worries surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, this will not be tolerated and we will continue to put such individuals before the court to be dealt with appropriately.”
North Wales Police Federation General Secretary Mark Jones added: “This is yet another example of where our members have had Covid-19 weaponised towards them.
“To deliberately cough at a police officer, or any other emergency worker for that matter, and then claim to have Covid is, quite frankly filthy and despicable.
“I am glad to see that a custodial sentence has been imposed although we are continuing to see a growing trend of these types of incidents so clearly the message isn’t getting through.
“So we implore the government and judiciary to work on introducing sentences that actually act as a deterrent to would be offenders.”