Hartlepool pub burglar jailed over sick threats to give cops coronavirus and spitting blood in police van

John David Gray, 26, was held down by the operators of The Royal pub in Church Street after disturbing him at around 11pm and he tried to escape over a high wall in the back yard.

He spat blood claiming he had Covid-19 and repeated the threats when two PCs attended.

Later at James Cook Hospital, Gray rubbed blood from his arm on the arm of one of the police officers and said he hoped the officer would catch the virus. He also spat blood inside a police van and laughed saying “contaminated”.

Fortunately, he did not actually have the virus.

Gray was jailed for two years at Teesside Crown Court for the offences which were all committed on March 30.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, told how Gray had gone equipped with gloves and a screwdriver to The Royal and used a brick to break in.

He was taken to hospital because of the threats and after suffering a broken jaw during the burglary.

Mr Sabiston added: “As he was about to be released [from hospital] he said to one of the PCs ‘I will spit in your face and see how you like it when you have Covid.

“He rubbed a bloodied arm on [the officer’s] arm several times and added he hopes the officer would catch the virus.”

Gray, of Tower Street, Hartlepool, admitted to burglary, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and damaging property.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Gray had been suffering with mental health problems at the time.

He said: “Though there were threats to spit at the officers it doesn’t appear that he actually directly did so.

“In the police station he attempted to apologise.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst called Gray’s behaviour disgraceful.

He added: “Most right thinking members of the public would be alarmed by the suggestion that anyone even in jest should suggest that they were carrying a potentially lethal virus, and when they are bloodied and threatening to spit the blood on to others that potentially create innocent victims is a matter that the court does take seriously.”

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