Man charged after reports of someone coughing on shoppers in Suffolk supermarket

A man's been charged after a member of the public was seen coughing over people in a town in Suffolk.

Police had several reports of a man wearing a mask coughing at people in the Co-op supermarket on Church Street in Eye on Saturday, 28 March.

The suspect was found by officers and arrested on suspicion of common assault.

Suffolk Constabulary say they have now charged Jonathan Steele, of Redingfield Road in Eye, with causing harassment, alarm or distress and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour. He was also charged with resisting arrest by a police officer.

The 34-year-old has been released on bail and will appear before Ipswich Magistrates' Court on 10 April.

A statement from Central England Co-op said: “We would like to reassure customers and colleagues that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe while they are out getting food and essentials in our community food stores.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to ask that everyone who visits us continues to be kind and to treat each other with care, compassion and respect at this uncertain time.”

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