By Ashley Young-
lndividuals who deliberately cough at police officers could face up to two years in jail, if they claim to have coronavirus.
That’s the verdict of a top prosecutor following revelations that a number of people have coughed at police whilst having the coronavirus.
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Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has warned of prosecutions following a string of threats linked to the deadly virus amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said assaults against emergency workers were punishable by up to two years in prison, while coughs directed as a threat towards other key workers or members of the public could be charged as common assault. Mr Hill said: “Emergency workers are more essential than ever as society comes together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am therefore appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19.
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“Let me be very clear: this is a crime and needs to stop. The CPS stands behind emergency and essential workers and will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who threatens them as they go about their vital duties.”
The stark warning comes after 45 year old Darren Rafferty, 45, admitted deliberately coughing at Metropolitan Police officers before claiming he was suffering from coronavirus. He had also admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his former partner, including three counts of assault on an emergency worker and faces sentencing next month.
David Mott, 40, was jailed for 26 weeks on Wednesday after threatening to spit at police in Blackburn when officers questioned him about being with two others following the announcement of stricter social distancing rules on Monday night, the CPS said.
Another 35-year-old Mehdi Razmdideh has been charged with shoplifting and assault after he allegedly spat and coughed at shop workers while shouting: “I’ve got coronavirus.” The attitude of members of the public towards police doing their job
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