A 26-year-old man has been charged with four offences, including allegedly spitting at a police officer, following an incident in Hartlepool.

The man has been charged with criminal damage, one count of actual bodily harm against an emergency worker, common assault of an emergency worker and burglary.

The charges were made following an alleged burglary at The Royal pub in Hartlepool on Tuesday night.

Officers thanked the landlord who is said to have detained the man until police arrival.

During the man’s arrest he is accused of assaulting a police officer by spitting to ‘infect the officer with coronavirus’.

Damage was then caused to a police van.

The man will appear at Teesside Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.