A yob has been locked up after coughing in the faces of police officers and telling them he had Covid-19.

Robert Deadman was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for 10 months after admitting two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, two common assaults against an emergency worker, and criminal damage.

The 38-year-old committed the offences after officers attended Southill Road, Chatham, in March following a report a man matching his description had been making threats to damage property.

He refused to comply with instructions given by the constables and pushed one of them against a wall and the second to the floor.

They were able to bring him under control and, as they began to apply handcuffs, additional patrols arrived.

Deadman, of Mount Road, Chatham, then repeatedly coughed towards the arresting officers, verbally abusing them and saying he had the virus.

None of the four officers were seriously injured or contracted Covid-19 as a result of the incident.

The yob was also charged with damaging a security camera in a custody cell, after he was arrested for a separate matter on September 6.

Welcoming the sentencing, Medway district commander Chief Inspector Ian Dyball said: "Deadman’s behaviour was exceptionally volatile.

"He showed no willingness to comply with our officers, who were lawfully exercising their duties and treating him with the dignity and respect anyone interreacting with us deserves.

"I have no doubt it was his intention to cause as much harm as he possibly could, and it is fortunate that no serious injuries were sustained.

"Inflicting any kind of assault against an officer is unacceptable but it is particularly reprehensible that he attempted to weaponise the pandemic against our constables.

'I have no doubt it was his intention to cause as much harm as he possibly could...'

"I am pleased the courts have enforced a custodial sentence which sends out a clear message that offending of this nature is thoroughly intolerable."

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