A man who spat in his wife’s face and told her "I hope you get coronavirus and die" has been jailed for almost a year.

Mark Palmer, 55, of Edinburgh Road, Cambridge, attacked his wife when she returned from the shops to find him and a friend drinking beer, Cambridgeshire Police said.

His wife had allegedly been objecting to his breaking of the Covid-19 lockdown rules.

Police were called to address where Palmer proceeded to spit at two officers.

He told them "I’m going to give you all coronavirus", the force said.

Palmer admitted common assault and two counts of assault by beating against an emergency worker at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday, police said.

He also admitted two counts of criminal damage, possession of class B drugs and a public order offence.

The 55-year-old was jailed for 42 weeks.

Detective Constable Sean Clery said: “This was a despicable incident where Palmer used excessive violence and made vile comments regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.”