Falkirk man jailed after threatening to infect bus passengers with Covid-19

A man who sneezed and coughed on police and bus passengers and threatened to infect people with Covid-19 has been jailed for 13 months.
By Court Reporter
Published 8th Jul 2020, 10:40 BST
Updated 8th Jul 2020, 11:28 BST
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Ryan Flood forced operators First Bus to evacuate the number 2 bus in Newmarket Street in Falkirk town centre after he woke up sneezing, laughed when other passengers asked him to cover his nose and mouth and continued to cough in his fellow passengers' direction.

Flood (34) refused to get off the vehicle when the driver stopped it and told the busman he had tested positive for Covid-19.

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Police were called and found the driver “clearly upset” and Flood sitting on the bus's internal gangway steps.

A man has been imprisoned after threatening to infect passengers with Covid-19 on a First Bus vehicle in Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.A man has been imprisoned after threatening to infect passengers with Covid-19 on a First Bus vehicle in Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.
A man has been imprisoned after threatening to infect passengers with Covid-19 on a First Bus vehicle in Falkirk. Picture: Michael Gillen.

When officers donned full PPE to detain him, jobless Flood said: “I'm going to make sure I infect you.”

He was handcuffed and arrested.

Prosecutor Ronnie Hay said when he was placed in a police van, he started spitting.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday by means of a video link from Low Moss Prison, Flood, of Falkirk, pleaded guilty to resisting police and committing a statutory breach of the peace on the bus.

The incident occurred on April 10, between 1pm and 2.45pm.

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The court heard it cost First Bus £1000 to deep-clean the vehicle afterwards.

Solicitor Gordon Addison, defending, said: “This was drunken, loutish behaviour from Mr Flood, of which he has no memory.”

Imposing the 13-month jail term, Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: “This was a horrendous episode.”

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