A man caught with a knife claimed he had coronavirus and then coughed on police officers as they arrested him.
Stephen Gilhoolie, 34, has now been jailed for 25 months for his behaviour.
Gilhoolie was found with the eight-inch blade in Glasgow’s Shettleston area in April this year.
The city’s sheriff court heard officers witnessed a drunk Gilhoolie – who was wearing a black bin bag – discard the knife and went to arrest him.
Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “He shouted ‘I’ve got coronavirus’ and deliberately and recklessly coughed towards the faces of the officers.
“He continued to shout ‘I’ve got coronavirus’ as they were arresting him.”
A spit-hood was applied and Gilhoolie was taken into custody.
He then went on a racist tirade towards one of the processing officers.
Gilhoolie said: “You are a terrorist, you should be selling fruit and veg in Govanhill.”
Gilhoolie pleaded guilty to the possession of a knife in a public place, culpable and reckless conduct towards police, and acting in a racially aggravated manner.
On Friday, defence lawyer Graeme Brown told the court that Gilhoolie had been drinking due to unresolved grief linked to his sister’s death.
Sheriff Paul Crozier said: “This was an extremely serious matter as at the time your offence was committed the country was going through a pandemic.”
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