A Gravesend man has been charged following allegations he deliberately coughed at police officers while claiming he had Covid-19 symptoms.

The incident is reported to have happened on Tuesday, after the suspect attended Tonbridge police station in relation to another matter.

Shaun Hewett, 26, formerly of Camden Close, Gravesend was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, along with a further charge of causing criminal damage, connected to damage to a police cell.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on May 20.

The Assaults on Emergency Workers Act came into force in November 2018 and created a new offence of assault against emergency workers - including police, paramedics, nurses and other blue light workers. It also provides tougher sentencing powers for judges.

Read more: all the latest news from Gravesend.