Banburyshire man charged with assault in connection to coronavirus coughing incident

The incident started after TVP Cherwell officers responded to a reports of a wanted male from Banbury and subsequently located and arrested him.

The man wanted by police coughed in an officer's face and claimed to be suffering from Covid-19 (coronavirus).

After consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service a 27-year-old from the village of Mollington near Banbury has been charged with assault on an emergency worker.

He will be remanded in custody and appear in court on Monday.

TVP Cherwell said the following on Facebook: "Actions like this will not be tolerated and we thank the CPS for their support and charge in this matter."

Thames Valley Police Cherwell had just issued a warning message on social media after getting reports of incidents within the area where people have deliberately coughed or spat at others while claiming to have Covid-19.

Police said any such incident reported will be fully investigated and the full support of the Crown Prosecution Service will be sought for the maximum appropriate sentence.