Coronavirus: Sisters jailed for attacking, spitting and coughing at police after breaking lockdown rules
Written by News on 02/05/2020
Two sisters have been jailed for attacking, coughing and spitting at police after they were stopped for breaking lockdown rules.
Danielle Pryor, 34, and 33-year-old Sarah, were approached by two police officers in Retford at 11.25pm on 27 April, following reports of a disturbance.
The officers had already spoken to the women earlier in the evening about anti-social behaviour and had told them to go straight home because of the coronavirus restrictions.
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When the police officers tried to speak to them again they became abusive and began to encourage each other to cough and spit at the officers.
Sarah was arrested after squaring up to one of the officers, while Danielle hit an officer in the shin with a crutch she grabbed from a member of the public and scratched his face with her nails.
Four more officers arrived to assist with the arrests and were also attacked by the two women.
Danielle spat at an officer several times as they attempted to get her into a police car, while Sarah kicked another officer in the arm as they drove to the police station.
The sisters appeared at Nottingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday and both pleaded guilty to two assaults on an emergency worker and one count of breaching COVID-19 regulations.
Danielle Pryor was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, while Sarah Pryor was jailed for 14 weeks.
“Assaults of this kind are completely unacceptable,” said Chief Superintendent of Nottinghamshire Police Rob Griffin.
“To treat our officers with complete contempt and disrespect when they are just trying to do their job, putting themselves at risk to protect people from coronavirus is a despicable act.
“Then to proceed with violence and spitting in a bid to purposefully harm and put the officers at risk is beyond belief.
“I’m glad that the pair have been dealt with swiftly by the courts and hope that they will reflect on their insufferable behaviour from their prison cells.
“Anyone found committing these disgraceful acts will be held as an example and treated with the utmost severity.”
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Sisters jailed for attacking, spitting and coughing at police after breaking lockdown rules