A homeless woman who deliberately coughed in a police officer's face during the coronavirus crisis has been jailed.
Amber Laing, 21, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker after she was caught burgling a cake shop in Royston, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Laing and Robert Hudson, 40, who is also homeless, broke into the business in the early hours of March 31, Yorkshire Live reports.
However, the pair were quickly apprehended by police following a call from a concerned member of the public.
Yesterday at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, Hudson was jailed for 26 weeks after he pleaded guilty to burglary.
Laing was sentenced to eight weeks in jail after she pleaded guilty to burglary and assault.
South Yorkshire Police sergeant Stephen Newton said: “We are pleased with the sentence Hudson and Laing have received today.
"Thanks to the quick thinking of a member of the public and my colleagues, the pair were stopped in their tracks.
“Burglary can have a lasting impact and it is something that we take incredibly seriously.
"I would urge anyone who has any information about people committing burglaries, or handling stolen goods to please contact us on 101, or 999 if a crime is in progress."
Coronavirus can be transmitted through coughs, sneezes or tears as it travels in aerosol droplets.
There have been a number of reports of suspects coughing and spitting at police, preying on officers' fears that they may become infected.
Last week Paul Leivers 48, from Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, was handed a 12-month prison sentence after spitting at police officers.
