Unemployed Audi driver, 25, who allegedly SPAT in the face of a police officer ‘while on her way for a coronavirus test has psychological issues’
- Hannah Ayoub, 25, was arrested in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre on Friday
- She allegedly told the officer she was on her way to be tested for the coronavirus
- She then allegedly coughed and spat in his face as she was being handcuffed
- Her defence lawyer told Parramatta Bail Court she has ‘psychological issues’
- She was granted bail and is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on June 17
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
An Audi driver who allegedly spat at a police officer after claiming she was on her way to get tested for COVID-19 has ‘psychological issues’, according to her defence lawyer.
Hannah Ayoub, 25, allegedly failed to stop for police in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, on Friday afternoon, after driving at speeds exceeding 120km/h in a 50km/h zone.
Traffic and Highway patrol allegedly saw Ayoub run a red light and overtake a vehicle on unbroken lines on Waterloo Road and gave pursuit.
During the chase, police allege she ran through a stop sign before she was halted by heavy traffic on Roberts Road where the officers caught up to her around 5pm.
Police will allege that footage of the shocking incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows Ayoub spitting in the officer’s face
She was placed under arrest but allegedly refused to get out of her car, forcing officers to physically removed her from the vehicle.
As she was handcuffed, she allegedly told the officer she was on her way to get tested for coronavirus before spitting in his face.
Ayoub was charged with drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45 km/h, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, and assault officer in execution of duty.
Her matter was heard in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, but she was not present as she was undergoing hospital treatment.
The court heard that Ayoub, who is unemployed, also told the officer that her brother had coronavirus.
Defence barrister Tom Hughes said she had serious psychological issues, including post traumatic stress disorder and depression, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Mr Hughes said the arrest was a collision of circumstances heightened by the anxiety both in the community and in police by the ongoing pandemic.
‘This woman has not been tested positive and nor has her brother been tested for coronavirus,’ Mr Hughes said.
The prosecutor argued that Ayoub knew she did not have coronavirus when she made the claim, indicating that the incident was callous.
She was placed under arrested just after 5pm on Friday but allegedly resisted requests to get in the officer’s car before spitting in his face twice
She did not display any coronavirus symptoms but the officer was tested as a precaution.
‘That is another officer off the streets for two weeks at a time when the community certainly needs them,’ the prosecutor said.
Ayoub was granted bail until she is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on June 17.
The bail conditions included a strict curfew at her parents’ home, a $5000 surety, and not driving.
Police allege that footage of the shocking incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows Ayoub spitting and coughing in the officers face.
After spitting on the policeman the officer can be heard saying ‘do not spit on me or I will put you on the ground.’
Ayoub can be seen demanding the officer let her speak to her lawyer and to let her go, but when he didn’t respond, she smashed her head against the back seat window.
The officer asked the woman if she understood why she was under arrest but she continued to protest and said she was on her way to the doctor.
She spat in the officer’s face a second time and he yelled ‘do not f***ing spit on me’ and slammed the woman onto the ground.
In response, the man who filmed the incident said ‘Don’t f***ing touch her.’