A DRUNK thug spat on a police officer in hospital as horrified patients looked on in a “reckless” attack.

Edmund Protopapa, an illegal immigrant, has been locked up after causing a “substantial disturbance” during an incident which saw him attack police at Southend Hospital.

The 30-year-old Albanian man, of no fixed address, had been taken to Southend Hospital in Westcliff.

Protopapa then carried out a string of attacks on the officers while drunk and in the presence of hospital staff and patients.

He spat on one officer, assaulted another and also caused damage to one of their uniforms.

The shocking attack happened on Tuesday last week, and Protopapa appeared in court two days later.

Laura Heggie, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, said: “Throughout the pandemic we have continued to see and hear of officer’s being threatened by persons they are dealing with directly coughing or spitting at them to try and evade arrest.

“Spitting and coughing at an officer isn’t acceptable at any time but in the present climate it is blatantly reckless, putting officer’s at much greater risk than anyone else of contracting the virus.

“Even if the threats are unsubstantiated they cause fear and worry to not only the officer but to their immediate family.”

Protopapa admitted harassment, assaulting emergency workers and causing damage to a policeman’s uniform.

In their ruling, the magistrates’ bench said: “The offence is so serious because the defendant spat at an officer and in a hospital during the Covid pandemic, was extremely intoxicated and caused a substantial disturbance near vulnerable people in hospital.

“The defendant is an illegal immigrant with no right to work or live in this country.”

The magistrates’ bench sent Protopapa to prison for two months.

Ms Heggie added: “Officers don’t have the luxury of being able to socially distance all the time and they don’t come to work to be abused and assaulted.

“It’s reassuring the speed in which this case has gone through the court process and although I would have liked to have seen a longer prison sentence handed out, this should still serve as a warning to others.”