Woman jailed for coughing at police officer
A woman who forcefully coughed in the face of a police officer after falsely claiming she had coronavirus has been jailed for 12 weeks.
Joanne Turner, 35, grew hostile when officers from Norfolk Constabulary spoke to her about kicking a car outside Norwich train station on Wednesday night (March 25).
While being questioned at her home, Turner became abuse and claimed she had been infected with coronavirus before deliberately coughing at one officer.
Turner was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly in a public place, criminal damage to property and common assault of an emergency worker.
Chief Superintendent Dave Marshall said: “Any abuse and threatening behaviour towards the emergency services is unacceptable at any time. However, this sentence reflects the seriousness of threats and acts of coughing to put others in fear of contracting Covid-19.
“This should act as a clear warning that there will be serious consequences for anyone who behaves in such a threatening way towards others during this pandemic.”
