A west Cumbrian woman has been jailed after she spat at key workers at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lisa Toni Bowness, 31, of Birley Court in Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to three counts of assault when she appeared at the magistrates’ court in Workington on Tuesday.

The court heard that, on April 11, Bowness assaulted PC Garrett and PC Blenkinsop by beating them.

On the same day she committed the same offence against Jeanette Barbour.

Bowness was sent to prison for 98 days - 28 for the assault on the woman, to spend concurrently with the 98-day sentence for the assaults on the police officers, who are classed as emergency workers.

Magistrates felt the offences warranted jail “because it was a series of assaults - two of whom are key workers involving spitting - which in the current time particularly serious”.

The defendant was also ordered to pay £50 compensation to each of her victims.

Bowness has been given until July 27 to pay the £150 she owes to the court.

Due to magistrates ordering compensation for the victims, Bowness will not be required to pay court costs.