First person in UK jailed for coronavirus offence
A MAN who coughed, tried to spit at, and bite a police officer in Westminster has become the first person in the UK to be jailed for a coronavirus related offence.
Adam Lewis first got the attention of a police officer on cycle patrol on Tuesday March 31 around 3.40pm, when a member of public flagged the PC down.
He was told that a man, Lewis, had been seen trying the handles of car doors in the area.
He subsequently approached Lewis and attempted to detain him for a search, at which point Lewis tried to resist and smashed a bottle of wine he was holding on the floor.
Lewis then verbally threatened the PC, telling him: “I am covid [sic] and I am going to cough in your face and you will get it.”
He then coughed on the PC, who was trying to keep him at arm’s reach, making no attempt to shield his mouth and fell to the floor.
The PC bent down to restrain him, while holding his head away from Lewis, who attempted to cough up phlegm, before trying to spit in his face.
Lewis also threatened to bite him, shortly after telling the PC that he had “a bad disease” and that he was going to give it to him.
After the PC called for assistance, other Met colleagues arrived and Lewis was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, and taken into custody at a central London police station, before appearing at Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday April 1.
The 55-year-old was given a six-week sentence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of an assault on an emergency worker.