A vile hospital patient lowered his mask and deliberately coughed in a nurse's face after claiming he was showing signs of coronavirus, a court heard.
Barry Ellis also lit a cigarette inside and blew smoke at his petrified victim while shouting and swearing after being admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral under false pretences.
Liverpool Crown Court was told the defendant, 47, did not have Covid-19 and had no reason to believe he had it - though had led staff to think he did, reports the the Liverpool Echo.
The horrific act, carried out while Ellis was drunk, left the brave nurse fearing she had the killer bug and could pass it on to other patients and her family.