Teacher bitten by theft suspect who said she had Aids
ATEACHER says she was bitten by a woman who shouted she had Aids. Olivia Cowell, of Bishopston, was travelling along Gloucester Road on an e-scooter when she says she attempted to stop a woman committing a theft at Boots pharmacy.
The 24-year-old, who teaches at a north Bristol school, says she intervened after noticing one of her pupils trying to prevent the woman leaving the scene – before Olivia was allegedly bitten in the hand by the woman.
Olivia says blood was drawn and she must get a series of hepatitis jabs, but NHS staff have reassured her the chances of her being infected with HIV are minuscule.
“I was scooting home from work at about 2.45pm on Wednesday when I noticed a commotion outside Boots,” she said.
“A woman was stopped by two students, and another woman in the doorway of the shop was shouting ‘give my bag back.’ I
“At first it was two students, and then one of them continued trying to stop her leaving the area. I knew him from my school and I needed to help him.
“He was a hero. More than 50 people were watching it happen but the only person who stepped in was a 14-year-old student. He was trying to keep her within range of the shop.”
Olivia says the woman managed to break free from the pupil while carrying the brown shoulder bag, continuing along Gloucester Road towards the Arches.
“I tried to stop her,” she added. “I came up behind her at high speed because I was on a scooter, and I asked her what was going on. She said Boots had taken her bag, so then she took someone else’s bag. I said, ‘Let’s go back to Boots and sort it out.’
“I was holding onto the bag because I didn’t want it to get stolen, but the woman bent over and bit me on my hand. She shouted out she had Aids which isn’t what you want to hear.”
After being bitten, Olivia says she let go of the bag and the woman continued walking towards the Arches.
“It was only when I left and went home that I noticed it was bleeding, and I thought ‘oh no, I have to go to hospital,” Olivia added.
When Olivia attended Southmead Hospital’s A&E, she said the receptionist initially could not believe what had happened.
“But the nurse I saw took it so seriously, she was brilliant. I was waiting for three hours and I had nothing else to think about. I was freaking out and she really reassured me.
“She said for me to get Aids from what happened would be like lighting striking me and winning the lottery at the same time.
“They said the risk is so minuscule that I’m not worried about that. I just can’t believe it happened.”
Olivia must get three hepatitis jabs in three weeks, meaning her coronavirus vaccine will be delayed.
“I was meant to get my Covid jab this Saturday, but because you’re not supposed to get a Covid vaccine within a short period after another jab, it’s going to be pushed back.
“It was a very unpleasant experience all round but I’m fine. I need to find the pupil who helped and tell him he did a good job.”