Thug who coughed at cop jailed

Officer forced to self isolate away from his wife and child after ‘deliberate act’

A POLICE officer has been forced to self-isolate for at least a week away from his wife and child after a man deliberately coughed in his face, a court heard.

Anthony Crawley, 28, who said he had downed a full bottle of whiskey and had no memory of the incident, has now been jailed.

Police were called to Crawley’s house in Bury after concerns were raised over his welfare, a court heard.

When they arrived he initially wouldn’t open the door.

When he did he was holding a stanley knife. However he was holding it by his side and didn’t make any threats, Richard Greenhough prosecuting, said.

The officers eventually got inside the property however when one of them was around one metre away he “deliberately coughed towards his face” Mr Greenhough said.

The officer asked him what he had done and he replied “I have just coughed at you.”

He then attempted to bite the officer’s hand.

They started to detain him and the officer pulled Crawley’s hood over his head to make sure he didn’t try to cough on him or bite him again.

As he was being arrested he twice unsuccessfully tried to kick the officer.

The officer has a wife and a four yearold daughter with asthma and has had to isolate away from them as a precaution following the incident.

In a victim impact statement the officer said “Covid-19 is a major threat to me and my family.

“I will have to isolate away from my wife and child for several days.”

Ian Cochrane, defending, said his client, who was suffering from low mood decided to buy a bottle of whisky and drank it in its entirety.

He said he has no recollection of the police even arriving, and claims he doesn’t even know why they were called.

“This is a unpleasant offence and he accepts that.

“He lives alone and is somewhat isolated and is suffering from low mood. “A cough in normal circumstances maybe wouldn’t be considered apprehension of unlawful violence however in the current climate he accepts it can cause distress and anxiety which this has.” Crawley, of Spencer Street, Elton, Bury, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting an emergency worker at Manchester Magistrates Court, which is currently only hearing custody and other urgent cases, on Friday morning.

He was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars.

District Judge Margaret McCormack told him: “I have listened very carefully to what has been said on your behalf. “I’m giving you full credit for your guilty plea and I accept you have mental health issues.

“This was a deliberate act, you knew what you were doing.”

I’m giving you full credit for your guilty plea but you knew what you were doing

District Judge Margaret McCormack