A TEENAGER who shouted “I want to give you Covid-19” while being restrained by police deliberately coughed in the face of an officer.

Anya Chamberlain, 18, was arrested after police were called out to a disturbance in Albany Close, West Bergholt.

Colchester Magistrates Court heard Chamberlain told the officers: “I want you to die, I want to give you Covid-19.”

Kayte Donnelly, prosecuting, said: “While being conveyed to custody, PC Carey-Smith was sat on a bench seat to the rear of the van.

“While trying to place a face mask on Miss Chamberlain, she looked up, leaned towards her and coughed multiple times at her.”

Chamberlain, of Albany Close, told police she was in a “frenzy” and didn’t remember the incident.

Appearing before magistrates yesterday, she admitted a charge of assaulting an emergency worker.

Roger Brice, mitigating, described the case as “particularly unusual”.

He said Chamberlain’s medical records showed a “history of suicidal ideation”, and a “very troubled and difficult” adolescence.

He added: “On this particular day her father suspected she had overdosed on prescribed medication.

“Her father tried to deal with this, but he couldn’t and called the police and that’s why they’ve come.

“Anya was being restrained by her father and it’s clear she’s in a distressed state.

“It’s clear from what she’s said she wants to cause herself harm, as a result of that restraints are put on her.

“For someone of her condition, at 18, who has never been in trouble before, then put in restraints by a police officer, the sense of distress was even worse.”

Lucy Lavender, chairman of the bench, said Chamberlain had carried out a “deeply unpleasant and dangerous” assault.

“It could not be more serious,” she said.

“You even said to the police officer that you were going to give them Covid, a highly contagious disease that could kill them and even their family.”

The teenager was sentenced to four weeks in prison, suspended for a year, and ordered to pay £100 in compensation.