Thug who spat on police officers and claimed to have coronavirus LAUGHED after getting arrested
- Townsville man Betherly Dean Barlow arrested after spitting on police constable
- Barlow was pulled over before spitting on officer who administered breathalyser
- Court heard Barlow then laughed in police car after his arrest in March this year
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A man claiming he had coronavirus before spitting on a police constable at a traffic stop laughed at the officers when he was arrested, a court has heard.
Townsville man Betherly Dean Barlow, 42, was pulled over by police on March 25 after they saw him driving from a bottle shop and mounting the median strip.
When police pulled Barlow over he told them he and others in the car had coronavirus before a constable reached into the window with the breathalyser.
Betherly Dean Barlow was sentenced to 12 months jail for claiming he had coronavirus before spitting on a police officer's hand (a Queensland Police officer is pictured)
Barlow had initially refused the test and when the officer reached in he spat on the constable's hand, the Townsville Bulletin reported.
He was immediately arrested and while being walked to the police car he attempted to spit on the police officer again.
Once Barlow was put into the patrol car he started laughing in the back seat, the court heard.
Share this article
He was tested for coronavirus a short time after his arrest and returned a negative result.
He appeared in the Townsville District Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to serious assault police officer by biting, spitting.
Defence barrister Travis Schmitt said his client had along history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking on the day of the incident.
'His level of intoxication provides some explanation to his poor judgment and he is extremely sorry for his behaviour,' he said.
'It is out of character. He has never spat on anyone and he doesn't know why he did it on this particular occasion.'
Judge John Coker described Barlow's actions toward the officers as' an appalling degree of behaviour'.
'They were nothing short of disgusting and you should hang your head in shame,' he said before sentencing Barlow to 12 months' jail with immediate parole.
The Townsville court heard when Barlow was finally put into the back of the patrol car he started laughing at being arrested (Queensland Police car pictured)
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
