Coronavirus: Sydney woman charged over alleged spitting incident ‘on way to COVID-19 test’

A woman has faced court after allegedly spitting and coughing on a police officer in an incident caught on camera | WATCH

A Sydney woman has faced court after allegedly spitting on a police officer following a vehicle pursuit in Sydney’s southwest on Friday afternoon.

The woman allegedly told police after being pulled over that she was on her way to be tested for COVID-19; an officer is currently being tested for the illness, though the woman did not show obvious symptoms for the virus, police said.

Footage obtained by The Weekend Australian shows the woman – identified as Hannah Ayoub, 25, – shouting “let me go, I want my lawyer”, before twice spitting on the officer.

In a statement, the NSW Police Force alleged the 25-year-old also coughed on the policeman trying to make the arrest.

Officers will allege in court that just after 5pm, they attempted to stop her Audi while on patrol in the suburb of Greenacre. As they conducted a U-turn to pursue the vehicle, it allegedly accelerated at a speed of about 120 km/h.

The speed limit on that street is 50km/h, police said.

She then allegedly ignored a red light signal at the intersection of Mimosa Road, and crossed unbroken lines to overtake a vehicle, police said.

In footage captured by bystanders once the vehicle was pulled over, the arresting officer told the handcuffed driver “not to spit on me”, before bringing her to the ground when she did so a second time.

The woman was taken to Bankstown police station and charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and assault officer in execution of duty.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, described the behaviour, particularly during the current pandemic, as “not acceptable”.

“Police will not tolerate being spat at in any climate, let alone the one we’re facing right now. It’s as simple as that,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

NSW Police confirmed Ms Ayoub was granted conditional bail at Parramatta Bail Court and will appear at Bankstown Local Court on June 17.