A man has appeared in court accused of spitting in a police officer's face and telling them he had coronavirus.

Sonny Manville was arrested in Bull Lane, Newington, near Sittingbourne, at about 11.15pm on Monday after patrols were called to a report a man had been seen acting suspiciously in the area.

Upon being stopped, the 19-year-old, of Top Dartford Road, Swanley, is said to have told the officers he had coronavirus and kicked at one of them, before spitting at another.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has since granted authority for Manville to be charged with obstructing a police officer and two counts of assaulting an emergency services worker.

He appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court yesterday, where he was released on bail to appear at the same court on Friday, June 26.

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