Shopper who filmed himself deliberately coughing on supermarket customers at the height of coronavirus panic buying is jailed
- Raymond Gary Coombs claimed he had COVID-19 before coughing on shoppers
- The 39-year-old was later arrested and tested negative to the respiratory virus
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called him 'an idiot' after the prank went public
- Coombs was jailed for drink-driving and other offences
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A man who falsely claimed he had COVID-19 and filmed himself coughing on shoppers during the global pandemic has been jailed for driving offences.
Raymond Gary Coombs, 39, went to a Fresh Choice supermarket in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 4 and deliberately coughed and sneezed on coronavirus-fearing customers during nationwide lockdowns.
He was arrested the following day for offensive behaviour after sharing footage of the stunt on Facebook, which he later deleted.
In the video, he could be seen coughing in the direction of customers and occasionally smiling as if to apologise for doing so.
Raymond Gary Coombs, 39, filmed himself smiling and deliberately coughing on shoppers in a supermarket
Days earlier, the tradesman uploaded a video to Facebook claiming he tested positive to COVID-19, but tests taken after the arrest came back negative.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called Coombs 'an idiot' after his prank was made public.
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Judge Raoul Neave described his behaviour in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday as 'dangerous, selfish and stupid', Stuff reported.
'It is the kind of nuisance behaviour that has plagued your career,' she said.
Coombs previously wrote on social media that his coughing spree was inspired by 'many prank pages' and offered his 'sincere apologies' for his behaviour.
Days earlier, Raymond Gary Coombs (pictured) uploaded a video to Facebook claiming he tested positive to COVID-19, but tests taken after the arrest came back negative
'I'm sorry for this prank that was played,' he wrote. 'It never should've happened - the alcohol had really taken effect and I have no sensor when I get this messy.
'There is nothing else I can say but apologise to everybody and assure you all it will not happen again.'
Coombs was convicted of drink driving after he was caught in August last year with a blood alcohol reading of 0.239, almost five times the legal limit of 0.05.
He later pleaded guilty to a string of other offences, including careless driving, refusal to provide a blood sample and breaching his release conditions by contacting an ex partner who he was ordered not to communicate with.
The man had posted the video of him coughing loudly at the Fresh Choice supermarket (pictured) in Christchurch
Defence lawyer Kathy Basire argued Coombs endured 'significant childhood trauma' and started drinking again on the anniversary of his mother's death.
While he had undergone alcohol treatment in prison before, Ms Basire told the court he wanted more treatment to curb his binge-drinking.
Judge Neave sentenced him to 16 months jail and fined him $750, but will be able to apply for home detention once a bed at a rehabilitation facility becomes available.
He was also banned from driving for 28 days and will then be able to apply for a zero-alcohol licence.
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