Burnley man who spat at police officers claiming he was infected with coronavirus jailed for a year

Callum Heaton (23) was arrested for being drunk and disorderly after police were called to a report of a disturbance on Cog Lane in Burnley in the early hours of last Saturday (March 28th)

During the arrest Heaton spat at two officers claiming he was infected with COVID-19. He continued to do so while he was taken to custody.

Heaton appeared before Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency worker and one of criminal damage. He was jailed for a total of 12 months.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “This was a particularly offensive and dangerous offence at this particular time spitting at officers.

“It is totally unacceptable that police and other front line workers who are doing their best to keep our communities safe are treated like this.

"It is good to see that the court are taking these type of incidents seriously.”

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