Spitting towards Albany cops labelled ‘disgusting’

The actions of a 54-year-old man who spat towards police officers and told them he hoped they got coronavirus have been slammed as “disgusting” by an Albany magistrate. Paul Donachie was handed an eight-month community-based order in Albany Magistrate’s Court last Thursday for disorderly behaviour in public and obstructing public officers. Last month, prosecuting Sergeant Alan Dean told the court that on March 18, Donachie was found by officers “yelling and swearing loudly” in the staff-only section of the Albany Plaza Coles. He was complaining about the distribution of goods to customers. After he was taken to Albany Police Station, Donachie refused to get out of a police vehicle, before spitting towards officers and telling them he hoped they got coronavirus. Donachie pleaded guilty and apologised to police for his actions. Sgt Dean said police accepted he had not tried to spit on them. In her sentencing remarks, magistrate Raelene Johnston said the community took the coronavirus situation “very seriously”. “You must have known how serious it was,” Ms Johnston said. “It was disgusting.”