Man jailed for punching and coughing at police claiming he had coronavirus

A man has been jailed after punching and coughing at police officers while claiming he had coronavirus.
By Rebecca Marano
Published 22nd Apr 2020, 17:43 GMT
Updated 22nd Apr 2020, 17:44 GMT
Kieran Paul Cassidy, 33, from Scarborough, was jailed for six months for punching and coughing at police officers.Kieran Paul Cassidy, 33, from Scarborough, was jailed for six months for punching and coughing at police officers.
Kieran Paul Cassidy, 33, from Scarborough, was jailed for six months for punching and coughing at police officers.

Kieran Paul Cassidy, 33, from Scarborough was arrested on Wednesday, April 8.

While in custody at Scarborough Police Station he become violent and started punching officers.

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He then began to cough in their faces and saying that he had coronavirus.

Cassidy pleaded guilty to two charges of assault on emergency service workers.

He was sentenced to six months in prison after appearing at Leeds Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 21.

Superintendent Andrea Kell, Commander for Scarborough, said: "At a time when communities are coming together to face the extreme challenges of a global pandemic, I am appalled that anyone could behave in the way Cassidy did.

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"Assaulting a Police Officer in their line of duty is utterly unacceptable and extremely shocking. To threaten to infect them with a deadly virus is a truly despicable act.

"As can be seen with Cassidy’s sentence, anyone suspected of committing this type of crime can expect to face prosecution."