A MAN has been jailed for spitting at a police officer and using racist language during the first lockdown.

Anthony Atha, 55, of West Bank Close, Keighley, was drunk when he subjected a police officer to a racist verbal attack, which lasted around 10 minutes.

He also spat towards the officer during the incident, at a time at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.

Atha was arrested after the incident and said he was sorry for what had happened when he was interviewed by police.

In a victim person statement, read out in court, the officer said the racist language directed towards him was upsetting and added he had remained polite towards Atha throughout the incident.

The incident took place at around 3pm on North Street, Keighley, on April 23, 2020.

Atha has 22 previous convictions for 39 offences, Bradford Crown Court heard on March 14.

Atha pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and did show remorse.

He was jailed for five months for both counts, to run concurrently, for assault by beating of an emergency worker and racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress – words/writing.

Judge Ahmed Nadim told Atha: “You were drunk at the time. You behaved in a disgraceful manner.

“You called him offensive names and you also used racially offensive language.

“A number of police officers had to attend.”