Drunken Metro passenger threatened to kill police officers and their families and shouted he has 'that virus thing'

Philip Brown, 49, also told them he had “that virus thing” after being forcibly removed at Jarrow on Monday, April 13, a court was told.

Brown had refused to leave his carriage seat when asked by police, causing them to fear he may use his carrier bag as a weapon.

He made the death threats while being taken off and arrested, followed by the warning about having the potentially deadly coronavirus, South Tyneside Magistrates Court heard.

Brown admitted a charge of being drunk and disorderly – and was remanded into custody on a separate matter.

That related to allegedly being in possession of a knife at Tynemouth Metro station on Monday, January 20, to which he pleaded not guilty.

He also denied being drunk on Thursday, February 27 and to breaching his bail conditions by being on the Metro network on Monday.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “He was found to be in a drunk and disorderly condition on the Metro and was in breach of his bail.

“He’s threatening staff and passengers. Police arrive, and Mr Brown is sitting in the carriage on the train.

“He’s clearly drunk and he’s shouting. He’s asked to leave but he doesn’t do it.

“He has a carrier bag and the officers are concerned that it might be used as some sort of a weapon. They arrest him.

“He’s making threats and says that he will kill the officers and their families and other such threats.

“He’s put into the back of a police van. He shouts that he has that virus thing.”

John Brown, defending, said his client was on the Metro because he did not know the charge of possession of a bladed article and his ban from using the rail network under his bail conditions still applied.

Brown, of Stone Street, Windy Nook, Gateshead, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly.

He was remanded in custody until Tuesday, May 12.

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