TEENAGER BRANDED A DISGRACE
Girl given a suspended prison sentence for vile threats to use covid-19 as ‘a weapon to cause fear’
A teenager coughed into the face of a hospital consultant and shouted 'coronavirus’ while being assessed after she jumped into a river for a dare.
Millie Todd had been taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital aftersheplungedintotheRiver Wear on June 12 because pals had dared her to.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the 18-year-old restaurant worker behaved aggressively towards staff on arrival.
Andafterahospitalconsultant,togetherwithawardassistant, carried an assessment of her condition, she erupted in anger at being told she would be kept in.
Prosecutor Ellen Wright told the court: "The consultant spoke to the defendant for about 20 minutes and she was described as being quite calm during that time, but she expressed a wish to be released from the hospital.
"He told her she couldn't leave the hospital and in responsethedefendantstoodup, coughedinhisfaceandshouted 'Coronavirus'."
The court heard the consultant and the ward assistant left the room and a police officer, who was at the hospital for something unrelated, cautioned and arrested Todd.
MissWrightadded:"Thedefendant stated 'I will cough in his face again when I walk out, I will cough again if you want'."
Thecourtheardherthreats werecapturedonthePc’sbodyworn camera. Todd said in interview she had been intoxicated and was "annoyed and upset"atbeingkeptinhospital.
She said she "didn't like the attitude" of the victim or the witnessbutlaterconfessedshe was "embarrassed" by her own behaviour.
Todd, of Fulwell Road, Sunderland,admittedassaultonan emergency worker.
Mr Recorder Chris Smith said: "Here we have an assault on a front line worker, using the coronavirus as a weapon to cause fear. "Even if she didn't think she had coronavirus, there are asymptomatic carriers."
The judge said Todd's behaviour, at the "height of the pandemic", was "disgraceful".
However, the judge said there was a "degree of immaturity" to Todd's offending and she does not pose a risk or danger to the public.
Todd was sentenced to two months imprisonment, suspendedfor18months,with150 hours unpaid work.
Tony Cornberg, defending, said Todd has not drunk alcohol since and has ruined her chances of working in health care.