Woman with weak immune system from chemotherapy 'spat and coughed at' in street

A couple in their sixties say they were spat at outside their home by a man they claim was flouting the rules on social distancing.
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Tony Birkett and wife Susan were at their home in Liversedge when they claim the man approached them, coughing and spitting, after they confronted him for visiting their neighbour in an 'unessential' visit.

Mrs Birkett, who is 66, has been treated for breast cancer three times and has a low immune system, so is particularly vulnerable.

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The retired couple were in their garden on Friday when they noticed a neighbour had invited her partner over to the house, and were kissing and cuddling.

A couple from West Yorkshire said they were forced to call the police after a man spat and coughed at them outside their homeA couple from West Yorkshire said they were forced to call the police after a man spat and coughed at them outside their home
A couple from West Yorkshire said they were forced to call the police after a man spat and coughed at them outside their home

Mr Birkett, 69, said: "My wife was in the garden and said, 'have you seen up there?' The woman had come out of the house, hugged her boyfriend and kissed him. I thought, 'you shouldn't be doing that'.

"We were about 80 yards from the house so I shouted up just to remind them about social distancing and we got a load of abuse.

"This lad came down and started coughing and spitting at my wife. He was shouting foul language.

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"The most shocking thing was that my neighbours whose daughter it was just stood there and just let it happen."

A couple in their sixties have said they were coughed and spat at outside their own home by a stranger they had reminded about the rules on social distancing. Picture: JPI MediaA couple in their sixties have said they were coughed and spat at outside their own home by a stranger they had reminded about the rules on social distancing. Picture: JPI Media
A couple in their sixties have said they were coughed and spat at outside their own home by a stranger they had reminded about the rules on social distancing. Picture: JPI Media

A 37-year-old woman from Huddersfield pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on Friday after she told a police officer arresting her for drunk and disorderly behaviour that she had coronavirus and exhaled at him.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man from Ovenden, near Halifax, was also charged on Monday with assaulting an emergency services worker after allegedly coughing at an officer and claiming he had the virus, and a further man has been charged with assault in York after allegedly spitting at a retail worker in the city centre on Sunday night.

Mr Birkett added: "It is so irresponsible. The lad also had his younger brother with him which is not exactly a good example.

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"My wife has had breast cancer three times and had to have a masectomy and chemotherapy, and her immune system is not the same as it used to be."

Coughing at a police officer means you can now be arrested for assaultCoughing at a police officer means you can now be arrested for assault
Coughing at a police officer means you can now be arrested for assault

Following the guilty plea of the Huddersfield woman on Friday, West Yorkshire Police reminded the public that the criminal justice system would "take a dim view of those who take advantage of the virus for their own benefit".

Detective Superintendent Jim Griffiths said: “Given the particularly challenging circumstances all emergency services are facing amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, it is utterly incomprehensible that they would be treated in this way.

“Irrespective of the fact that this individual has chosen to use Coronavirus as the means to assault our colleague, this is a subject which we have campaigned long and hard over.

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“It led to the introduction of the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act in 2018 and we will continue to use these powers against anyone who attempts to use such tactics against the very people who are trying to protect them.

“The message is clear, we will not tolerate this behaviour from the minority and the criminal justice system will take a dim view of those who take advantage of the virus for their own benefit.

“Clearly this has been particularly distressing for the officer concerned and we are providing the necessary support.

“It has not yet, however, been ascertained if the woman arrested was suffering from COVID-19.”

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A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police said the force was unable to comment on individual cases, but said: "This is a life threatening illness and people must heed the advice, to reduce the strain on the NHS and Social Care and to slow the spread of coronavirus."