A man was pepper sprayed by police after being told to wear a mask on public transport.
Dramatic footage shows the moment Anthony Baldwin, 34, is confronted by British Transport Police (BTP) who ask him to leave the train.
Police had boarded a Merseyrail train at Liverpool Lime Street station on Wednesday afternoon in response to a report of a man coughing at two passengers.
Baldwin has been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer.
Mobile phone footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media and shows the man telling the officer: "You're not allowed to touch me by law.
"I do not have to wear a mask, end of, and you don't have to challenge me either."
The officer replies: "I'm not going to argue any more. You're getting off or we're taking you off."
The passenger refuses and a struggle ensues as the officer attempts to eject him from the train.
He is then warned to "get off the train or I'll get you locked up", before the officer says "I'll spray you, mate".
Video footage shows the spray is discharged and then more officers arrive and the man is taken off the train.
He told the Sun he wasn't wearing a mask on the train because he has suffered from "severe anxiety" after the death of his dad five years ago.
He added: "I don’t have to wear a mask [on the train]. I’m exempt.
“I’ve got severe anxiety. In the video the police pull my top over my head and you can actually hear me screaming."
A complaint has since been made to BTP's Professional Standards Department, which is being assessed.
Like Scotland, anyone travelling on public transport in England must wear a face covering under Covid-19 regulations, apart from children under 11 and people with disabilities or certain health conditions.
Our sister paper The Mirror reports that a BTP spokesperson said: "A man has been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer on a Merseyrail train to Liverpool Lime Street station.
"The incident happened at around 3.20pm on Wednesday 2 September.
"Officers had responded to a report of a man coughing at two passengers."
Anthony Baldwin, 34, of Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton, will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court on January 6 accused of threatening behaviour and assault.
