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'I’ve got coronavirus and now you've got it... I hope you and your family die': Men jailed for threatening to infect others

Two men have been jailed this week for spitting or threatening to infect people with Covid-19.

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Bevan Burke

A 54-year-old man was jailed on Monday for spitting in the face of a police officer in Birmingham.

Officers were called to a petrol station in Corporation Street at 9.45pm on Saturday following reports of a drunk man causing problems, pouring fuel on the floor and obstructing traffic.

Anthony Evans, of no fixed address but originally from Atherstone in Warwickshire, tried kicking out at them and as they detained him spat in an officer’s face.

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He was jailed for 16 weeks at Birmingham Crown Court.

On the same day another man, Bevan Burke, was jailed after he spat at a shopkeeper who had banned him from the store for shoplifting.

Burke stormed into Allen’s Croft Post Office, Northfield, on April 3, and spat at the victim shouting “I have corona…you’re going to die" having been told he was barred following a previous shoplifting incident.

Officers identified Burke as the offender and arrested him later that day from his home in Reservoir Close, where they found him hiding in a cupboard.

While being transported to police custody the 22-year-old began coughing and blowing towards officers and again said “I’ve got confirmed coronavirus and now you’ve got it. I hope you and your family die".

He was jailed for 42 weeks at Birmingham Crown Court having admitted assaulting emergency workers and the shop keeper, plus shoplifting at the convenience store on January 10.

Assistant Chief Constable Danny Long welcomed the tough stance by the courts.

He added: “It’s completely unacceptable for people to behave in this way against officers, other emergency services staff, key workers or indeed any member of the public.

“At a time of heightened concern across the whole country a minority of people are using the threat of coronavirus as a weapon.

“It won’t be tolerated and offenders have now been sent a clear warning: there is the very real risk you will be sent to prison."

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