A POLICE officer was left fearing he had contracted hepatitis C after being spat upon by a man who had discharged himself from hospital with a cannula still in his arm, a court heard.

Kieron Smith was undergoing an alcohol detox at Wrexham Maelor Hospital when he left the ward and was later found by police drunk in Abbot Street in Wrexham.

When nurses were sent to the scene to remove the medical tubing he became angry and insisted on doing it himself. But he was left with blood spurting from his arm and in a rage assaulted the police officer.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told North East Wales Magistrates’ Court: "He (Smith) refused to return to hospital and he told them he was going to keep on drinking.

“His behaviour deteriorated and he was “asking for a Chinese”.”

Smith shouted “I want a f…ing party” and “Take me to Llay I want a f...ing Chinese”.

The nurses confirmed the defendant had tested positive for hepatitis C.

“He became aggressive, threw his head back and spat in the face of the officer, who said it caused him great concern because of the health risks of contracting the disease,” said the prosecutor.

“He (the PC) felt he had a considerable risk of getting it.”

Smith, 26, of Shones Lane, Llay admitted assaulting an emergency worker in Watery Road, Wrexham on April 15 this year when he appeared before North East Wales Magistrates’ Court.

Euros Jones, defending, said: “His best mitigation is that he has had the good sense to admit the offence at the first opportunity.

“He was receiving alcohol detoxification treatment and he was somewhat confused.

“But he had consumed alcohol which is why he committed the offence.

“He was very apologetic and he accepts he spat at the officer. He says he would rather have someone punch him on the nose than spit at him.”

The court was told that Smith was now in remission for the disease, but there was no information as to the health of the officer.

Magistrates handed Smith a 13-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered he go on a six-month alcohol treatment programme. He has to pay the officer £100 compensation as well as court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115.