A SUSPECTED shoplifter reportedly deliberately coughed in the face of staff and said she had coronavirus.
Police were called after a woman was suspected of shoplifting in two supermarkets on Birmingham Road in Stratford around 7.30pm on Monday.
At one store it was reported she deliberately coughed in the faces of shop staff, and at a second location, threatened to cough at staff while claiming she had coronavirus.
The woman, aged 34 from Stratford, was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and common assault.
She was taken to police custody, and while attending a medical appointment with officers today, was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and causing intentional racially motivated harassment, alarm and distress.
She currently remains in police custody.
