Carer told police officer she was 'red hot' with coronavirus then coughed in her face in West Yorkshire street

Andrea McManus said she was "red hot" with coronavirus symptoms before coughing towards the officer as she was placed in a police van.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers were sent to Edale Avenue, Newsome, Huddersfield, on March 29 this year after receiving a report of a woman behaving erratically in the street.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said two officers arrived in the street at 11am and saw McManus in the front garden of a property.

She appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The 49-year-old was then placed in handcuffs when she was unable to provide an explanation as to why she was out during lockdown.

Mr Smith said McManus lives a short distance away from where she was arrested and officers escorted her to her home.

A damaged car was outside of the defendant's home.

The prosecutor said the officers asked McManus if she had any coronavirus symptoms.

She told them she was red hot and coughed towards a female officer.

The officer could feel air against her cheek as McManus coughed.

McManus coughed in the officer's face a second time as she was placed in a police van.

The defendant was taken to custody where officers described how McManus did not appear to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

She could not be interviewed about the offence because of her claims about suffering from coronavirus symptoms.

McManus, of Flacon Street, Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

Anastasis Tasou, mitigating, said McManus worked as a carer, had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage.

McManus was jailed for four months.