A TEENAGER who threatened to cough and spit into a police officer’s face as she helped to restrain him following his arrest for an alleged motoring offence has been jailed.
Thomas Wilson, who was out in Coventry in defiance of the Coronavirus lockdown at the time, appeared at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to common assault on an emergency worker.
The 19-year-old, of Hepworth Road, Binley, Coventry, who was told he should be ‘thoroughly ashamed’ of himself, was jailed for six months.
Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him in light of the ‘unprecedented threat from Covid-19’ the potential harm of his threat to Pc Katie Wynne aggravated the offence.
Robert Tolhurst, defending, had suggested sentencing should be adjourned, pointing out Wilson has been diagnosed with ADHD and was ‘on the autistic spectrum.’
But the judge responded: “I am going to sentence him today for the assault on the emergency worker. It is important that it is dealt with today. It will attract a longer-than-normal sentence in the current health crisis.
“I do not propose to ask for a report. The current situation dictates that the public know what happens if you behave in this way.”
Prosecutor Peter Grice said via a video conferencing facility that on Wilson’s birthday on March 31, he was detained by firearms officers in Brinklow Road, Coventry, around midday.
Pc Wynne, who was dealing with an earlier alleged road-rage incident Wilson was said to have been involved in, arrived on the scene – and as he was being moved between police vehicles he began to kick out.
So, in an incident captured on police body cameras, he was taken to the ground and, as he continued to struggle, he was told to calm down.
But as Pc Wynne and a colleague tried to restrain him, Wilson, who had been protesting he had done nothing wrong, threatened to cough and spit at them.
So they quickly pulled a spit hood over his head before he was restrained and arrested.
Of the fact Wilson was out in his van at the time, Judge Lockhart observed: “This in the circumstances of a lockdown already in place in this country.”
And he commented: “The fear of injury is serious in the context of this offence in the context of the Covid-19 lockdown.”
Mr Grice pointed out that at the time Wilson was subject to a community order imposed by magistrates in January for a public order offence and having a bladed article in public.
That had involved a road-rage incident when Wilson had followed the occupants of another vehicle to their home and run towards them armed with a pruning saw.
Judge Lockhart told Wilson: “Listen to me Mr Wilson. You are just 19, but I have decided in the exceptional circumstances of this case to move to sentence. In my judgement it must be dealt with sooner rather than later.
“At this time this country faces an unprecedented threat from Covid-19.
“In the front line are the emergency services interacting with the public, here in the form of Pc Wynne and her colleagues.
They deserve, and will have, proper and timely protection from the courts.
“I make it clear the court will not hesitate to support officers as they go about their business to protect others [by imposing] swift and condign punishment.”
And of sentencing guidelines, Judge Lockhart commented: “The guidelines did not anticipate a situation of the entire population being in isolation. The potential harm is an indication of seriousness. At no time could the provisions of the emergency worker legislation be more important than now.
“I am adding a significant factor of aggravation to your sentence. In my judgement I must pass on you a deterrent sentence.
“I am satisfied in these circumstances it is necessary to pass on you a sentence which will send out a clear message that this behaviour is not acceptable. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”
Wilson, who was appearing in court over a video link from the jail where he had been on remand, replied: “I am, sir.”
