A MAN has pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to spitting at a doctor on a Merseyrail train during the coronavirus lockdown.

John Edward Christian, 68, spat at victim Mhairi Johnstone as she was travelling home from her shift on May 27.

Prosecuting on Monday, July 13, Alan Currums said it was at about 5pm when the victim boarded the Merseyrail train headed for Liverpool Central. She had her headphones on and as far she was aware she was the only passenger in that carriage.

A few minutes later, as the train was between Capenhurst and Hooton Stations, she became aware of someone who was talking to her.

She went to take off her headphones to hear, but Christian, of Woodhey Court, Old Chester Road, Higher Bebington, deliberately spat at her.

Mr Currums told the court the spit went on to the victim's cheek and forearm and Christian had "looked annoyed", before moving to sit elsewhere.

The victim spent 30 seconds trying to comprehend what had just happened before contacting Merseyrail.

The assault had left the victim feeling very worried about her health, particularly as this had happened during the coronavirus outbreak, as she was in a high-risk group. She was worried about the possibility of getting other health conditions as well as coronavirus, and could not be sure the spit had not gone into her eye.

She had encountered difficult and aggressive patients in the past at work, but none of them had ever spat at her.

She felt dirty and wanted to shower as soon as she got home, and was left shaken by the attack.

Christian had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Defending, Mark Evans said a pre-sentence report was sought for Christian, who had pleaded guilty to the charge of assault by beating at the first opportunity.

He suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and he had been sectioned following the incident, the court heard.

Christian will be sentenced on August 14. He was released on unconditional bail.