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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Luke O'Reilly

Stalker admits spitting blood in faces of police officers while shouting about coronavirus

A convicted stalker has admitted assaulting emergency workers after spitting blood in the faces of police officers while shouting about coronavirus.

The spray of blood and spit went into the mouth of one policeman while another was also hit in the face as four officers went to arrest Samuel Konneh.

Konneh, 38, on Monday pleaded guilty at a brief hearing held via Skype at Manchester Crown Court to four counts of assaulting an emergency worker and a single count of stalking on March 26.

Judge Tony Cross QC told the defendant via video link to HMP Forest Bank that he will be sentenced on June 29, following the preparation of a psychiatric and a pre-sentence report.

At an earlier hearing, a court heard Konneh, of Withington, was arrested just days after the UK went into lockdown.

He had been stalking a woman who rebuffed his attentions and police were called to an address on Yew Tree Road, Withington, south Manchester, the court was told.

As police broke down a door it hit Konneh, who was stood behind it, in the mouth, causing him to bleed. He then popped his head through the gap and spat at the officers.

During the incident Konneh, was shouting about the coronavirus, the court heard.

Judge Cross told the defendant: “All sentencing options are open to the sentencing judge.”

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