Coronavirus: 'Vulgar' man spits blood into shocked officer's eye

A 41-year-old man has pleaded guilty to assault after spitting blood into a police officer's eye.

Body-cam footage of the incident on 18 April shows Temisan Oritsejafor being placed in handcuffs during his arrest at a block of flats in Coventry, before he turns and spits in the face of PC Annie Napier.

As people rush to help her, shocked and tearful PC Napier tells them she is okay, but "just scared about corona stuff".

West Midlands Police have confirmed she did not suffer any ill-effects from the incident.

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Oritsejafor, who was on bail for assaulting another officer a few weeks earlier, has since pleaded guilty to two charges of assault on an emergency worker, and a further charge of assault.

PC Napier said it was " a shock" and "very unpleasant" when she was spat on, and highlighted the additional risks involved with being an officer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She added that she was "pleased the force and the courts take these assaults so seriously".

Meanwhile, Superintendent Jenny Skryme said it was "vulgar and unacceptable to spit at anybody, but even more so a key worker who is putting themselves at risk to keep people safe and catch criminals".

She added: "Our officers are bravely and repeatedly on the front line despite the understandable safety concerns across the country.

"This type of assault on our staff is deplorable and shouldn't, and won't, be tolerated."

Oritsejafor, of Attoxhall Road in the city, is remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at Warwick Crown Court.