Man jailed after coughing at detention officer

7 July 2020

Derbyshire Police Federation chair Tony Wetton has welcomed a 28-week jail sentence handed down to a man who deliberately coughed in the face of a police officer during the pandemic.

Krishnakugan Krishnapillai (49) coughed on the detention officer when he was taken into custody at Chesterfield Police Station on 30 April.

“I cannot understand for the life of me why anyone would cough in someone’s face at any time but to do that during a pandemic is particularly despicable,” says Tony, “I am pleased this man has been jailed and that he will now have time to reflect on his actions. The jail sentence may also deter others who might think it’s OK to assault a police officer.

“Time and time again, I am speaking to officers who have been attacked in the course of their duties. We need these offenders to be suitably punished and the courts have to use the sentences available to them.”

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard that Krishnapillai, of Town Street, Pinxton, also assaulted a female healthcare professional who was checking on him at the police station.

Although he pleaded not guilty,  he was convicted on two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker which meant he had breached a suspended sentence given to him at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court on 18 July last year for assault by beating, failure to provide a specimen for analysis having been suspected of carrying out a motoring offence and assaulting an emergency worker, offences that were committed in April and May 2019.

In addition to the jail sentence, Krishnapillai was also ordered to pay £620 prosecution costs, £560 compensation and a £128 victim surcharge.