Drug user with hepatitis threw needle into the arm of home’s security guard
A DRUG user with hepatitis threw a hypodermic needle into the arm of a security guard who was trying to stop him injecting himself.
Derby Crown Court heard a second needle thrown by Gary Swift became embedded in the door in at the homeless shelter he was staying at in Derby.
The hearing was told the victim has not worked in the same role since the incident happened more than two years ago. And a psychologist who assessed him has diagnosed the guard now suffers post-traumatic aumatic stress disorder as a result. lt.
Jailing Swift for 12 weeks, Judge Shaun Smith said: “Because you were taking drugs and so you didn’t really know what you were doing, when someone tried to stop you, you threw needles at them. One of them, m, unfortunately, went into nto the security man and that hat was reckless. The consequences for him have been really serious and you yourself have quite a few issues.
“You have served the equivalent of a 40-week sentence on remand for this and in a low security unit so you have already served what I am about to hand you and that means you will be released today.”
Hal Ewing, prosecuting, said the incident happened at the Padley Centre, in Becket Street, on March 26, 2018. Word had been passed that 62-year-old Swift was in his room taking drugs.
Mr Ewing said: “The guard and a second man went to the room and asked him to leave. The defendant became angry and when he turned around threw three needles in their direction.
“One of them stuck in a door and a second, uncapped one, stuck in the arm of the victim. He took the needle straight out but it seems that it is known Mr Swift had hepatitis.”
Mr Ewing said the guard had to undergo a three-month course of medication to treat any possible infection he may have caught from the dirty needle. That sent the victim into a downward spiral of depression.
Mr Ewi Ewing said: “He made two victim v impact statemen ments. In the first he said he had the immediate worry he had become infected and might infect his own family, saying what the defendant did was r reckless and un unthoughtful behaviou iour. In a second victim impa impact statement, made a year afte after he said he had still not worked and there is also a report form a psychologist confirming a diagnosis of PTSD. Thankfully he did not contract the illness that could have been passed on from the needle.”
Swift, now of Lower Eley Street, Derby, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Chris Hallas, mitigating, said: “He tells me he did not appreciate his actions had caused any injury to the man. He was a not well man then and even now there is evidence of psychosis.”