Martin Barry Turner, aged 50 and of Capstone Place in Bournemouth, was sentenced to 24 weeks in custody at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 2 April for offences of assaulting an emergency working, failing to comply with a direction under COVID-19 (coronavirus) legislation and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Officers were called to a report of a man acting in an anti-social manner in Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth at around 7am on 1 April.

Turner was found drinking from a can of cider and unsteady on his feet. He told officers he did not like the lockdown imposed by the government and that he did not care about the restrictions they had imposed.

The officers advised the defendant to return to his accommodation and warned him he could be fined or arrested if he continued to breach the regulations.

Later the same day officers were called to Boots in Southbourne Grove. Turner was found close to the store and officers were told by staff that he had been disregarding the two-metre social distancing measures in the store and had become verbally abusive.

Turner was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and failing to comply with directions under the COVID-19 (coronavirus) legislation. When he was being cautioned he coughed at officers and sneezed in their direction before saying “have some of the coronavirus”.

The defendant was taken to custody and subsequently charged. He did not have a confirmed case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and was not displaying symptoms.

Chief Constable James Vaughan, of Dorset Police, said: “Our officers and staff demonstrate their commitment, courage and dedication to serving our communities on a daily basis and this is particularly the case during the current situation we are facing as a nation.

“They have signed up to protect and help the public, not to coming into work each day with the risk of being assaulted.

“Coughing and sneezing at officers is particularly abhorrent during the public health emergency we are all facing.

“We will not tolerate assaults on our officers or our emergency services colleagues. Offenders will be dealt with robustly and this case demonstrates that we will bring criminal proceedings against those responsible.”