A TEENAGER who spat at a police officer claiming he had Covid-19 has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Jake Smith was handed an eight-week imprisonment suspended for a year at Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday, March 2, after admitting assaulting a police officer and drunk and disorderly behaviour.

The court heard that officers had been attempting to disperse a group of revellers on Academy Way in Warrington town centre, near to Reef bar, in the early hours of Sunday, January 9.

But the 19-year-old defendant ‘refused to cooperate’ and repeatedly swore at police.

He was warned several times before being arrested, but after being taken into custody ‘matters deteriorated’ and he spat at one PC.

Smith had earlier claimed that he was testing positive for coronavirus and was supposed to be isolating.

The officer, who has vulnerable family members, was left with ‘speckles of blood’ on his uniform from the spittle.

Defending, David Robb told magistrates that his client – who was supported in court by his mum, an NHS worker – has ‘scant recollection’ of the incident, having consumed a ‘great deal’ of alcohol.

Sentencing, magistrates panel chairman Michael Danaher said: “It is a serious set of offences.

“You were drunk, and being drunk is not a defence.

“The court will not tolerate anyone spitting at police officers. We take it very seriously that you said that you were testing positive for Covid and you were in your isolation period.

“That’s not a good thing to say.

“We take a very dim view of this. We believe this has crossed the custody threshold as this are quite serious matters.

“You have gone out the front door today.

“If you come back to court, you will go out the back door.”

Smith, who has two previous convictions for assault and drink driving in 2019 and 2021 respectively, was also handed a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days.

The teen was told to pay compensation of £200, a £128 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.