South Yorkshire woman spared jail after claiming she had COVID-19 when she spat at police

A repeat offender assaulted two police officers and a detention officer while claiming she had Coronavirus.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court - sitting at Sheffield Crown Court - heard on April 15 how Keeley Jo Jones, 34, of Highstone View, Worsbrough Common, Barnsley, admitted the three assaults which happened on April 14.

Alison Goldsmith, prosecuting, said Jones was arrested for another matter and she was completely uncooperative and police had to place her in a cell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Goldsmith added: “Officers were unable to conduct a search and escorted her to a cell and she started to resist and was verbally aggressive and she refused to let them search her and she would not remove a cord from her jogging bottoms.

A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after she spat at police officers.A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after she spat at police officers.
A woman has been given a suspended prison sentence after she spat at police officers.

“She said, ‘I’m corona’d up to fxxk’, and she continued spitting in their direction.”

Jones also spat at the detention officer as she tried to help, according to Ms Goldsmith, before the defendant said she had the coronavirus.

Ms Goldsmith added Jones also kicked out at the thigh of one the police officers and the defendant had to be taken to the floor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The female police officers stated they were both very concerned about contracting the coronavirus and exposing their families to Covid-19. The female detention officer also stated she has been left feeling very angry.

Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and admitted breaching a conditional discharge which had previously been imposed for two shop thefts.

She also admitted two counts of failing to attend drug assessments, two counts of failing to surrender to court and a shop theft.

Gus Kennedy, defending, said the defendant had been drinking and had not been aware of her behaviour when she had been arrested.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “If the victims were present she would take the opportunity to apologise to each one for what had happened.”

Jones suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Mr Kennedy, after her partner had been shot and killed and she has since developed problems with drugs and alcohol.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse sentenced Jones to 32 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with a rehabilitation requirement and an eight-week curfew.

Jones must also pay £75 compensation to each of the officers.