A man has been jailed after claiming he had Covid-19 and spitting at police.
Brandon Wallace, 21, was being arrested over an alleged domestic assault when the incident occurred.
Wallace, of no fixed address, was arrested in Barking, East London at about 11.45am on Monday on suspicion of domestic assault of a woman and criminal damage to her property, police said in a statement.
During his arrest he said he had the virus and spat at two officers, leading him to be arrested for assault on emergency workers.
He was later charged, and admitted while in custody that he did not have Covid-19 or any of its symptoms.
He pleaded guilty in Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to six months in prison.
East Area's Inspector Alexis Manley said: "It says much about the attitude of this man that, in addition to targeting somebody close to him, he was also willing to make false claims about Covid-19 and to spit at officers."
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