Police had to put spit hood on Hartlepool yob who coughed at them claiming to have coronavirus

Dean Rowbotham made the worrying threats while being arrested for a string of offences committed just hours earlier including trying to burgle a 62-year-old man's home and attacking and smashing up property in another man’s house.

Teesside Crown Court heard the 31-year-old, who has a bad record, was immediately aggressive when being arrested and had to be restrained on the ground.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said: “He said to the two officers ‘I've got coronavirus. I hope you get it and die’.

"Whilst on the floor the defendant was coughing upwardly and directing at the two officers while issuing that threat.

"The officers had to use a spit hood to put over his head.”

While in the police van and also at the University Hospital of North Tees, Rowbotham issued a volley of racial abuse towards a policewoman who is British Pakistani.

"He was repeatedly being abusive to her and also threatened to kill her, murder her and bomb them,” added Mr Hadfield.

The officers said they had been left distressed by Rowbotham’s behaviour.

Earlier that morning on May 22, he assaulted a man in his house by hitting the victim with a piece of wood, and smashed ornaments and stole his wallet.

At around the same time, Rowbotham burgled a garage and tried to break into the 62-year-old owner's house but failed.

The court heard the victim struggles to sleep and his grandchildren are now too frightened to stay overnight.

Rowbotham admitted two assaults on emergency workers, racially aggravated harassment, burglary, attempted burglary, common assault, theft and two counts of damaging property.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said Rowbotham was intoxicated at the time adding: “He's quite appalled at his behaviour on reflection.

“He will take steps to try to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Paul Watson, sentenced Rowbotham, of Colwyn Road, Hartlepool, to 27 months prison.

He said the racial abuse of the female police officer was “foul and disgusting” adding: “Emergency workers are entitled to the protection of the court and they will get it.”

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