Sunderland teenager placed in cough hood after shouting 'coronavirus' at doctor during assault following drunken River Wear plunge

Millie Todd, 18, also warned “I’ll cough again in his face, I’ll cough again if you want” after her arrest at Sunderland Royal Hospital, a court heard.

Todd, of Fulwell Road, Sunderland, could be imprisoned for a year when she is sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month.

Magistrates in South Tyneside heard she was taken to hospital by paramedics after she jumped into the River Wear as a dare on Friday, June 12.

She lashed out verbally at a consultant and a nurse after they told her she should stay for further treatment.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “This young woman was brought to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

“She was drunk, and it appears that her friends had dared her to jump into the river, which she had done.

“She was fished out and paramedics had taken her to the hospital to check her out.

“(The doctor) was on duty and came to see her, but she was pushy and truculent and not cooperating.

“She moved herself towards him and a nurse in the medical treatment room and she jumped up in front of him and shouted ‘coronavirus’.”

Mr Anderson added: “They left the room. Police are already present, and they arrest the defendant.

“They are awaiting transport back to the police station when she says, ‘I’ll cough again in his face, I’ll cough again if you want”.

“A cough hood was placed on her, and she was taken to the police station.”

The court heard that when interviewed, Todd replied: “If that’s what they say, then I accept that’s probably the truth. I was drunk, and I can’t recall the incident.

“I was annoyed at being asked to stay in hospital and I didn’t like the attitude of the consultant and the nurse.”

Mr Anderson said recently introduced legislation had raised sentencing guidelines for an attack on an emergency worker to a maximum of 12 months’ imprisonment.

He informed the court the government was now consulting on increasing the jail limit to two years.

Ian Cassidy, defending, said: “It’s really important to look at the dates. A matter of weeks later and this would have been in the youth court.

“She’s an adult by just a few weeks when this offence was committed.

“What she says is that she is embarrassed about her attitude to the police and medical staff.

“She says that she was extremely intoxicated and had ended up in the river.

“A few months ago, she found her uncle dead at her home. She has said, ‘This has rocked me, finding a dead body, and it’s turned me to drink’.”

Harry Metcalfe, chair of the bench, said: “The court always takes a dim view of assaults on emergency workers, especially those who shout ‘coronavirus’.”

Magistrates called for reports and granted Todd, who pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, unconditional bail.

She will be sentenced on Tuesday, August 11.

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