A 38-year-old man was jailed for five months on Wednesday for displaying a disregard for spreading a life-threatening disease after he escaped from a Larnaca rehabilitation centre for people with Covid-19.

The Syrian man had been arrested by police on suspicion of burglary and theft but was taken to Eden Resort early this month after he tested positive for Covid.

He abandoned the place on April 8 but was arrested on April 17 in Ypsonas, Limassol.

He had been driving a car with a 34-year-old woman as passenger when intercepted by police.

The suspect tried to escape by accelerating but he crashed into a patrol vehicle instead. He got out and ran away but officers caught up with him and placed him under arrest.

The woman attacked the officers and was also arrested, police said.

Officers found €965 in cash in his possession and around eight grammes of crystal meth in the car. He will face charges for those offences at a later stage.