Man admits to coronavirus assault after coughing and sneezing on man in Glasgow park

Ryan Haggerty claimed he was only joking when stopped by police

Author: Paul KellyPublished 22nd Jul 2020

A man has admitted coughing and sneezing on another man in Glasgow's Queen's Park, before telling him he had coronavirus.

Ryan Haggerty, 23, assaulted Andrew Murdoch back in April.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Mr Murdoch spotted a drunk Haggerty walking in his direction.

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: “Haggerty said ‘Sorry boys’ and then stopped approximately four feet away, coughed and sneezed in his direction.

“He then said ‘I’ve got corona’.”

Mr Murdoch contacted police officers and told them Haggerty had fled nearby

Officers soon stopped Haggerty who told Mr Murdoch: “I don’t have corona, I’m sorry I caused you fear and alarm.

“I’m really sorry I was only doing it for a bit of a laugh. It was only a joke, I don’t have corona.”

He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the assault while on bail from Paisley and Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports by Sheriff Paul Crozier.

Haggerty, of the city’s Shawlands, was remanded meantime.

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