A HEREFORD man who repeatedly punched a friend and headbutted him in an argument has been jailed for eight months.

Repeat offender Thomas Burroughs, 25, pleaded guilty to assaulting Andrew Whitehead, leaving him with a black eye and a bloody face, prosecution barrister Abigail Nixon said.

Burroughs, who was last in court for coughing over police officers and claiming he had infected them with coronavirus in 2020, had been out in Hereford city centre drinking with friends on April 26.

After going back to Mr Whitehead’s home, an argument over a family matter started and the victim, sat on his sofa, was punched “five or six times” to his face and head, Ms Nixon said.

Burroughs, of Jordan Terrace in Hereford, then pulled the victim by his clothes and headbutted him.

He later apologised on social media, Ms Nixon said, but when arrested by police he claimed he was acting in self-defence.

She said Burroughs, who has more than 10 previous convictions for violence, was subject to a suspended sentence for the assault on police officers after aggravated vehicle taking in 2020.

After a chase, police tried to arrest Burroughs but he became violent as he tried to punch a woman police officer.

He then coughed over police officers, claiming he had coronavirus, saying: “Now you’re infected, f****** p*ssies.”

Edmund Middleton said there had been a family argument where Burroughs had “lost control”.

Judge Martin Jackson said Burroughs had a lengthy record which was almost exclusively for violent offences.

He said Burroughs needed to be jailed, sending him to prison for 12 months – four months for the assault, and eight months from the suspended sentence.

The judge told Burroughs to pay a statutory surcharge, but no prosecution costs.