Burnley man who spat at police after 'claiming he had coronavirus' jailed

A 23-year-old man who spat at officers while "claiming he had coronavirus" after he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly has been jailed.
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Callum Heaton, 23, was arrested for being drunk and disorderly after police were called to a disturbance on Cog Lane in Burnley in the early hours of Saturday morning (March 28th).

Heaton spat at two officers while claiming he was infected with COVID-19 during the arrest.

He also "continued to do so while he was taken to custody."

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A spokesperson 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.”

Heaton appeared before Burnley Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on an emergency worker and one of criminal damage on Monday (March 30).

He was jailed for a total of 12 months.