Cannock coronavirus cougher jailed after elbowing police officer
A man who elbowed one police officer and coughed in the face of another while claiming to have coronavirus has been locked up.
Sean Pearson, 31, from Rigby Drive, Chadsmoor, has been jailed for 32 weeks after attacking the officers on Saturday.
Pearson elbowed a police officer when he was arrested after refusing to go home having got involved in a separate incident near his home.
He turned up at Redhill Road where officers were dealing with a group of motorcyclists who had been congregating, Staffordshire Police said.
Pearson was repeatedly asked to leave the area and go home but instead stayed and argued with officers, a force spokesman said.
He refused to provide his details and then attacked one of the officers as he was arrested.
While in custody Pearson then said he had Covid-19 and coughed into another officer’s face.
He was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and pleaded guilty to both counts via video-link at North Staffordshire Justice Centre this morning.
A motorcyclist arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving over the initial incident has been released under investigation.
Chief Inspector Becky Hyde, area commander of Cannock Chase Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The approach was to offer advice and move these riders on so they would disperse, maintain social distancing and prevent anti-social behaviour problems.
"Pearson resisted and then assaulted our officers resulting in a jail term.
“We want to work with our communities and, while the majority of people are being responsible, we will put those who think they can flout the regulations or harm our officers before the courts.”
