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Sheffield Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Sheffield Crown Court, today, Tuesday, April 7, heard how Levi Marsden, 18, of Holwick Court, Barnsley, was approached in Barnsley town centre after she had failed to attend a drug assessment.

David Marshall, prosecuting, said: “Both officers gave accounts and asked if the defendant had COVID-19 and initially she said no and then said she had and began coughing aggressively and repeatedly.”

Mr Marshall added: “She was asked to cover her mouth but she declined and said ‘I hope you get it’.”

A teenager has been jailed at a Sheffield Magistrates' Court hearing after she coughed at police during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case was heard at the Sheffield Crown Court building, pictured.

The defendant later told police she had had a cough for ages and had just wanted the officers to get her cold.

The court heard the officers had not been wearing Personal Protective Equipment but later put on face masks and latex gloves.

District Judge Grace Leong confirmed Marsden started coughing upon her arrest, coughed in the police vehicle and coughed again in the custody suite.

Marsden pleaded guilty to failing to attend a drug assessment in March after previously registering with a suspected presence of cocaine, and she admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker after the incident on April 6.

Joanne Robinson, defending, said: “She is very sorry she has committed these offences and there is some evidence of remorse.

“When she was brought to the custody desk she said ‘I am sorry’.”

Ms Robinson said Marsden is a carer for her poorly father.

She added since the Coronavirus outbreak with diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the UK people have been given custodial sentences for similar offending but she argued a suspended prison sentence might be possible given Marsden’s early guilty plea and remorse.

However, District Judge Grace Leong told Marsden: “You knew that the population had been asked to be considerate when coughing but you deliberately coughed at the police officers even though you were repeatedly told to stop and cover your mouth.”

She added: “The offences are so serious only custody can be justified.”

Marsden was sentenced to three months of custody and ordered to pay £50 compensation to each officer.

South Yorkshire teen is jailed after coughing at police during COVID-19 pandemic