An Ayrshire cop has told how a Covid cough assault left him ‘shocked and concerned’.
PC David Scobie was deliberately coughed on by a thug claiming they were suffering from coronavirus symptoms as he and colleagues attended a Covid breach call.
Now the brave sergeant has spoken about feeling a “heightened awareness” over the risks officers face whilst trying to keep the public safe.
The officer based out Kilmarnock was attending a routine call over a gathering including a fire to garden furniture at a property in Ayr at the height of the pandemic.
In his 24 years in the force — PC Sgt Scobie had never encountered a single assault but was left “reflecting” on the shock incident which he says put him, his colleagues and family at risk.
Now, the 54-year-old has joined other emergency workers in Ayrshire as part of an assault pledge to end violence against responders.
PC Sgt Scobie is just one of 73 officers who were victims of the sinister assaults which include ‘spitting’ whilst abusers have claimed to be positive or have symptoms of COVID-19.
Speaking exclusively to Ayrshire Live, the cop has echoed calls that assaults on officers “is not part of the job.”
PC Sgt Scobie said: “In the late hours on August 9, 2020 we attended a routine noisy party call.
“At that time it was the height of the pandemic, people were losing their lives. These gatherings should not have been happening.
“It was in the Dalmilling area of Ayr, we arrived at a property with a substantial garden, at the time there was no disorder that was apparent to us.
“We did come across a fire at the scene that I had concerns about. The fire was being fuelled by household items.
“At the start we made ourselves known, we were met by the occupier who was hostile towards us.
“The dynamics of the call had changed — we proceeded to give basic safety fire advice.
“One of the group had joined the occupier, his attention was drawn to myself, he then came up close to me and he deliberately directed a cough towards me.
“He then claimed that he had Covid symptoms.”
The cough yob was then arrested and later charged.
Kevin Goudie, 29, was jailed for 15 months for the offence reduced from 20 after admitting his guilt.
The attack forced the stricken officer into quarantine and required a Covid test which thankfully returned as negative.
He added: “My overall feelings of the incident was disappointment — I was there to help and give them advice in relation to the current situation of the chaos and crisis that the country was experiencing.
“I didn’t expect to get assaulted — I didn’t get that kind of flavour.
“I was going on with an open mind so it was a real shock to be faced with that.
“It is the first time in my 24 years in the force I had been assaulted and for it to happen in such a way was definitely concerning.
“It’s not part of the job — we don’t come to work to be assaulted or be verbally abused.
“My main priority was to protect myself, my family and my colleagues.
“I had to reflect on the situation — I must admit it gave me a heightened awareness of what could happen.”
PC Sgt Scobie hopes the assault pledge can increase public awareness of the unacceptable abuse that colleagues in the police and other emergency workers go through.
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