A FOUL-MOUTHED man spat on a police woman and told her he had coronavirus during a drunken rant.

Police were called to a block of flats in Albion Street, Brighton, over Peter Davy’s abusive behaviour to a neighbour.

The 65-year-old had spat through the neighbour’s letterbox and spouted homophobic abuse.

When police arrived, he shouted: “Leave me alone, I will spit on you, I’m infected with coronavirus. I will kill you.”

He spat repeatedly and some landed on a PC’s neck. Davy then fled into his flat where he refused to open the door.

Davy made the “appalling” threats, despite the fact that he himself has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which makes him highly at risk of the virus.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he continued to abuse officers, telling them to “f*** off” and made more homophobic slurs.

“I’m here because I called my neighbour a f***ing homosexual,” he said.

Disgusting

Brighton Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Nick May, said: “Our key workers work tirelessly to save lives, and behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated.”

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court, Davy admitted spitting at the officers and spouting abuse to them and his neighbour.

Despite his poor health, he was jailed for three months and ordered to pay compensation to the victims.

District Judge Amanda Kelly told him: “To spit at someone is disgusting, but to do so in the midst of a national emergency is completely and utterly despicable.”

Paul Lamb, prosecuting, said the incident happened at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Joe Harrington, defending, said Davy was in a confused state because of the lockdown and was “mortified” by his behaviour.

He said his client was “remorseful and shameful” about his “appalling behaviour”.

Mr Harrington said Davy was feeling down and had drunk more alcohol than usual because he was alone at home.

District Judge Kelly said: “Such behaviour is abhorrent.

“You have COPD and are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus, yet you were prepared to put other people’s lives at risk.

“Only immediate custody is justified.”

Davy, of Albion Street, Brighton, admitted common assault on an emergency worker, using threatening or abusive behaviour, and causing harassment.

He was also told to pay £50 compensation to each of the five victims.