A man who repeatedly spat at a security guard and then a policeman whilst claiming he had the coronavirus during a drunken tirade wept as he was jailed for 13 months.
Jamie McAdam yelled: "I've got the coronavirus - I hope you die from it!" as he spat at the security guard.
He then told a policeman: "I've know I've got it - I've been to hospital," before spitting again.
Both men had trying to help 31-year-old McAdam after he deliberately lay down in a busy street following a temper tantrum outside a hotel, where he had been staying during the lockdown.
He shouted: "I have the coronavirus. I've been diagnosed with it and I'm going to give it to you next. Watch it!"
Sign up to get the Mirror’s daily coronavirus briefing email at mirror.co.uk/email - in your inbox after the press conference every evening.
He later soiled a police van and then a cell where he was subsequently detained.
In a statement PC Gary Riley-Owens said: "I expect there to be risks in the job however it is completely vile and disgusting for someone to spit at me and relish in the fact he has the Coronavirus.
"I take all the precautions I can to keep safe and this was quite wrong. I have a six-year-old daughter and whilst I'm confident I don't have the virus I am fearful of hugging her at home for fear of passing it onto her.
"This man made repeated threats towards me and re-iterated several times saying he had the virus.
"All I wanted to do was get as far away from him as possible but I know I have no choice other than to carry out my duty as professionally as I can. This has had a huge impact on me and my family."
Father-of-three Mr Gray, the security guard and father-of-three, told police: "Whilst I am young and fit I live with my mother who suffers from COPD and who is vulnerable.
"It's disgusting that someone can spit in my face and hope I would catch the virus. I was overwhelmed by the experience."
At Manchester Crown Court, McAdam admitted common assault and assaulting an emergency worker plus criminal damage to a cell at Cheadle Police Station.
It is not thought he has the virus although he says his sister has died from the illness.
The incident occurred on Friday, March 27 after McAdam returned back to his hotel at 1.30pm after a boozing session.
Prosecuting Gavin Howie said: "A manager heard screaming and shouting and the defendant was heard to say he wanted to slit his wrists and that his sister was intensive care and his mother had died of the covid-19 virus.
"He had earlier gone out for a walk after being seen drinking alcohol but came back in a bit of a state.
"He was crying hysterically and was being very aggressive. He was walking around the hotel shouting before Mr Gray approached and tried to calm him down.
"But the defendant was abusive and aggressive and making reference to his sister dying from the coronavirus.
"He was moved away but he walked outside and threw himself into the middle of the road causing traffic to come to a standstill. He was abusive towards drivers and a 999 call was made.
"Mr Gray went to pick up Mr McAdam to prevent him from injuring himself but the defendant told him he had the Coronavirus and spat in his face with the saliva going into his left eye.
"Mr Gray feared he may have come into contact with the virus but he remained calm.
"He asked McAdam: 'why are you doing this. I'm trying to help you' but the defendant tried to spit at him on several more occasions saying: 'I've got the coronavirus - I hope you die from it.'
"It caused Mr Gray further anxiety and the defendant continued to be abusive."
Police attended the scene but McAdam told the officers: "I have the coronavirus. I've been diagnosed with it and I'm going to give it to you - I hope you die."
When he was handcuffed by one of the officers, he went on: "Do I give a f**k? I'm going to give it you next. Watch it."
Mr Howie added: "He was placed in the rear of a police van but he positioned himself in the rear of the cage in the van and spat at the officer through the gap. The officer jumped out of the way and told the defendant not to spit at him.
"But the defendant continued to spit at him saying: "I've know I've got it - I've been to hospital.'
"This caused extreme concern to the officer as he took the threat seriously in the current climate.
"He called on other officers with PPE to assist but the defendant continued his tirade saying: "Do you think that's going to stop you getting the virus?' He was headbutting the police van and making further threats then urinated himself to make the task of searching him more unpleasant for the officers.
"His behaviour was described as disgusting. In this case saliva can be said to be a weapon."
The court heard, back at the police station officers wearing spit hoods escorted McAdam from van which required a deep clean.
Inquiries revealed he has 39 previous offences on his record including ten for assault and two convictions for assaulting police officers.
In mitigation defence counsel Howard Bernstein said: "He is sorry for behaving this way
"Although he was lashing out and saying he had covid-19 he wasn't and hasn't displayed any symptoms. He hasn't tested positive for it.
"At the time he had received a call from his mother saying his sister had died but he doesn't recall what happened after that."
Sentencing Judge Suzanne Goddard QC asked the court to make inquiries as to whether McAdam's family had in fact fallen ill to coronavirus.
She told McAdam: "It's difficult to think of a more appalling and disgusting way to behave as you did during the midst of this coronavirus crisis.
"The victims were all trying their best to assist in these very difficult times but your response was to spit at them and threaten them.
"You were out of control and you did everything you could to make those involved with you believe that you were infected with the virus and that your intention was to infect them.
"Had you in fact had the virus you would have been facing more serious charges and I would have sent you to prison for a much longer period.
Your behaviour was absolutely disgusting and frightening for those involved."
