Man jailed for six months for coughing at police officer and saying he had coronavirus

Adam Lewis, 55, was stopped while drunkenly staggering through Mayfair in London and swigging from a bottle of wine on March 31.

A drunk man who coughed at a police officer and claimed he had coronavirus has been jailed for six months.

Adam Lewis, 55, was stopped by a constable named PC Lamptey while drunkenly staggering through Mayfair and swigging from a bottle of wine on March 31.

After being stopped, the unemployed offender became ‘aggressive’ and was arrested after telling the officer he had Covid-19 and coughing at him, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.

David Burns, prosecuting, said: ‘PC Lamptey was on patrol yesterday (March 31). Mr Lewis became aggressive.

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‘He had a bottle of wine in his hand and he said he had the coronavirus and he was going to cough at the officer and he did, causing PC Lamptey to arrest him.’

When asked by District Judge John Zani if Lewis had symptoms, Shan Yaqub, defending, said his client had told him he did not show any signs of the virus.

Judge Zani replied: ‘Well the police officer didn’t know that.’

Mr Yaqub replied: ‘No, I was going to say the officer can’t have known that.. Mr Lewis was extremely drunk at the time. He’s been drinking the last few days.

‘He understands this offence in the current climate is very serious. He got his giro cheque a few days ago and hasn’t been home since. He has been drinking.’

Lewis was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting common assault on an emergency worker.

The maximum sentence for the offence is a year but Judge Zani gave him credit for his guilty plea.

However, Lewis – who had been in prison three times since last September for assault and theft – shouted that his sentence was ‘harsh’ as he was removed from the dock while wearing a facemask today.

Judge Zani told Lewis: ‘I’m told you don’t remember anything of what happened yesterday. But yesterday you were alert enough to say… ‘I’ve got the virus’ and then you spat.’

Lewis interrupted: ‘I didn’t spit, I’d never spit.’

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Judge Zani continued: ‘You coughed at the officer. My powers mean I’m able to give you six months. I give you credit for pleading guilty but the credit will be reflected in my giving you six months.’

As he was guided to leave the court, Lewis yelled ‘That’s a bit harsh though, you said you’d give me credit!’

It comes after a woman who claimed she had coronavirus and coughed in a police officer’s face was jailed for 12 weeks.

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