A WOMAN appeared in court for deliberately coughing in the face of a police officer and telling them she had coronavirus.

Jacqueline McCurdy had been arrested, and while in custody she committed the vile behaviour.

The 54-year-old from Worthing admitted assaulting an emergency worker when she appeared in court.

Worthing Magistrates’ Court documents noted McCurdy had “coughed in his face, stating she had Covid-19.”

The incident happened in Bournemouth in October last year.

McCurdy, of Ashacre Lane, Worthing, was spared a prison sentence because she has worked well with the probation service, and prison would mean she would lose her job.

She was given an eight-week suspended sentence and told to do 150 hours of unpaid work.

The court also ordered her to do 20 rehabilitation sessions with probation and pay a £128 surcharge and £85 costs.