Man spat at PC and said he had Covid

A DRUG addict kicked and spat at a police officer after telling them he had coronavirus, a court heard.

Drunken Craig Jewell spat towards the head of the male constable and kicked him twice amid a spree of bizarre offences.

The 41-year-old told police: “I hope you lot get it (Covid-19), your kids get it and you all die.”

Plumber Jewell had earlier pulled a knife on paramedics trying to help him – forcing them to lock themselves in an ambulance.

Judge William Mousley told him: “These offences were committed while you were drunk or under the influence of drugs.”

But he said that there was a chance that Jewell could mend his ways with drug treatment and took into account the 10 weeks he had spent in prison on remand.

Jewell was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and probation supervision.

Jewell, of Alexandra Road, Mutley, admitted causing criminal damage to a van in Liskeard on April 23 last year. He pleaded guilty to having a knife in a public place near his home and racially aggravated threatening behaviour on December 17.

Jewell finally admitted assaulting an emergency worker and causing criminal damage to a police van on January 25.

Ian Graham, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police were first called to Well Lane in Liskeard last April.

He said Jewell had smashed a window and a wing mirror so he could break into a parked van and had apparently drunk a bottle of fabric conditioner.

Mr Graham said an ambulance was called to Houndiscombe Road in December after Jewell had apparently fallen from his bike and banged his head.

The barrister said Jewell got out a six to seven-inch knife and the paramedics locked themselves in their car and pressed an alarm. The court heard the defendant then racially abused a police officer.

Mr Graham said that in January police were called to another incident in Plymouth and Jewell was taken to Derriford Hospital with a suspected injury. He said he repeatedly told officers he had coronavirus and swore at a nurse.

The court heard he was discharged but arrested and put in the police van.

Mr Graham said he tried to spit at officers but could not behind his mask – but he did manage to spit on the floor of the police van.

Mr Graham said that Jewell twice kicked one male constable in the chest and spat at him.

Holie Gilbery, for Jewell, said he had written a letter of apology to those who had suffered through his actions, adding that he was remorseful and had made no bail application so he could stay in prison away from drugs.

Judge Mousley also ordered Jewell to pay the van owner £400 compensation towards repairs.