A man who suggested he might have coronavirus before coughing in a police officer's face has been put behind bars just two days later.

Stephen Taylor, from Whitstable, was arrested after officers were called to a disturbance in West Cliff in the early hours of Monday.

Taylor, of West Cliff, was being aggressive when they arrived at the scene of the incident.

An officer asked the 26-year-old if he had been in contact with anyone with the coronavirus and he said "yeah" - before leaning forward and coughing in the officer's face.

Taylor was arrested and admitted the offence in interview. He was charged later the same day.

He admitted assaulting an emergency worker at Medway Magistrates' Court yesterday and was jailed for 120 days.

DI Tristan Hardiman said: "Actions of this kind towards police officers, or any members of the emergency services, are completely unacceptable, especially during a public health emergency.

"There is absolutely no excuse for Taylor’s actions and the court has recognised this with an immediate custodial sentence being imposed."

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