South Shields yob jailed after spitting on police officer during coronavirus pandemic

A yob has been jailed by magistrates after spitting at a police officer during the ongoing pandemic.
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Lee Dennis Hepplewhite was locked up just two days after committing the offence last weekend.

Hepplewhite, 30, of Hatfield Square, in South Shields, pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting the male officer in the town on January 30.

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Appearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court two days later, he was told that he was to be locked up for 28 days because the offence was “so serious” as it involved spitting at an officer during the pandemic.

Lee Hepplewhite has been jailed by magistrates after spitting at a police officer during the ongoing pandemic.Lee Hepplewhite has been jailed by magistrates after spitting at a police officer during the ongoing pandemic.
Lee Hepplewhite has been jailed by magistrates after spitting at a police officer during the ongoing pandemic.

Hepplewhite, who received credit from the court for his immediate guilty plea when his sentence was determined, was also ordered to pay his victim £150 compensation by the end of February 2022.

A separate charge that he breached emergency coronavirus legislation on January 30 by entering Morrisons supermarket, in Ocean Road, South Shields, without reasonable excuse was withdrawn.

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