A racist lout told police he had coronavirus symptoms then coughed in an officer's face while he was being arrested for verbally abusing takeaway staff.
David Mitchell had been bought a free meal by kind strangers at the Moulin Rouge Cafe in Newcastle, but his demeanour suddenly changed when they left.
The 40-year-old then turned to the staff at the takeaway and told them he no longer wanted the food but he did want the cash instead, a court was told.
After his request was refused, Mitchell flew into a rage and began verbally abusing the workers, claiming he was in the Mafia and telling one employee "You Turkish b*****d, you only came here to get rich," reports Chronicle Live.