Covid claim man jailed after coughing at police during arrest

A man who claimed to have coronavirus and coughed on police officers as they arrested him has been jailed for 25 months.

Stephen Gilhoolie, 34, was spotted carrying a knife in Glasgow's Shettleston area in April.

A court heard officers saw him discard the weapon and went to arrest him.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: "He shouted 'I've got coronavirus' and deliberately and recklessly coughed towards the faces of the officers."

"He continued to shout I've got coronavirus as they were arresting him."

A spit hood was applied and Gilhoolie, who was also wearing a black bin bag, was taken into custody.

He then went on a racist tirade towards one of the processing officers.

Gilhoolie admitted to possession of a knife in a public place, culpable and reckless conduct towards police and acting in a racially aggravated manner.

Graeme Brown, defending, told Glasgow Sheriff Court his client had been drinking due to unresolved grief linked to his sister's death.

Sheriff Paul Crozier said: "This was an extremely serious matter as at the time your offence was committed the country was going through a pandemic."

Gilhoolie was sentenced as it emerged Police Scotland officers or staff were assaulted 265 times during the first month of lockdown.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives under freedom of information also revealed almost 89 of these crimes were Covid-19 related.

The figures were published under freedom of information and covered the period between 24 March and 30 April.