A callous thief who spat at a police officer and told him ‘I have coronavirus’ has been sent to prison.
Oliver Cook, 35, was arrested by officers from Kent Police outside a supermarket in Oxford Street, Whitstable, at around 18:20 hours on Sunday 29th March after he was seen trying to steal meat from the store.
As response team officers were searching Cook, he spat on one of the officers and laughed as he said: ‘I have coronavirus’.
Cook was subsequently charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage and theft.
On Tuesday 31st March, Cook admitted the charges at Medway Magistrates’ Court and was sent to prison for 120 days.
Before police arrived at the supermarket, Cook had been confronted by staff inside the supermarket at which point he became abusive towards them and damaged a display in the shop.
After spitting on one police officer, Cook then kicked another PC as he was placed into a police van.
District Commander for Canterbury and Dover, Chief Inspector Elena Hall, said:
‘All emergency services and our whole community, which includes our officers and staff, are working extremely hard in challenging circumstances.
‘We will not tolerate attacks of this kind.
‘We will seek the prosecution of anyone who spits at or otherwise assaults any of our team, making sure the court know it is aggravated by any claims to have the coronavirus infection.’
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