A drink driver who spat in the face of a police detention officer has been jailed.
Jack Towle was stopped after speeding while over the alcohol limit and banned from driving.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that after a roadside breath test on Burn Park Road, Sunderland, proved positive on the night of May 23 last year, he was taken to South Shields police station.
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Jane Miller, prosecuting, said: "He was initially compliant although he became somewhat abusive upon booking in."
When asked to provide a specimen of breath, he said "no f*** off".
Miss Miller said: "Having refused to provide a specimen, he was taken to his cell.
"He was forcibly placed in his cell because he was being obstructive. As he was being put in the cell a hatch to the cell door opened and it stayed open for a short period of time and he spat through the hatch.
"Spittle landed on on the the officer's face and T-shirt."
Miss Miller added: "This offence took place during the current pandemic, with spittle landing on his face."
When he was interviewed by police, Towle said he couldn't remember going to the police station. He admitted the assault was "disgusting" and said he would not usually act like that.
Towle, 30, who has 52 previous convictions, admitted he had never had a full driving licence or taken a test.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, failing to provide a specimen of breath, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and was in breach of a previous suspended sentence.
Recorder James Wood QC jailed him for 12 months and imposed a five-year road ban.
He told him: "You assaulted the custody sergeant by spitting on him and that at a time of the pandemic.
"I find there is no alternative but to impose a sentence of imprisonment."
The judge added: "I hope you will realise you have to really drive yourself to avoid further offending."
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said he was shocked at what he had done in spitting at someone during covid and wanted to apologise to the officer.
She added: "He is remorseful for his behaviour towards the officer in covid times."
Miss Coxon added that Towle, of Blythe Court, Barton on Humber, North LIncolnshire, had been working in Sunderland.
