A 25-year-old male has admitted to three counts of assault, two of which relate to nurses at West Suffolk Hospital who were spat at by the belligerent thug.
Before being taken to hospital, Zeb Fitts had gotten into a fight with another male and police were called to a residential address to deal with the incident.
Fitts was arrested at the scene and was taken to West Suffolk Hospital to have a hand injury assessed.
However, while Fitts was receiving treatment to his hand, he spat in the faces of two Accident & Emergency nurses who were treating him.
Fitts was taken back to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre and was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker in relation to spitting on the nurses.
Fitts appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 8th April) where he pleaded guilty to the two assaults as well as pleading guilty to one count of ABH and one count of criminal damage.
The charge of ABH and criminal damage related to the incident that took place before Fitts was taken to West Suffolk Hospital
Fitts was remanded in custody pending an appearance before Ipswich Crown Court scheduled for Wednesday 29th April.
Superintendent Kim Warner, West Suffolk Area Commander, said:
“At a time when our colleagues in the NHS are on the front line of combatting coronavirus, spitting at nurses who were trying to treat you is both utterly disgusting and reckless beyond belief.
“I cannot comprehend what compels someone to do such a thing, but at least he has admitted his crimes at the earliest opportunity and has saved a further drain on public services.
“I hope he now reflects on his actions whilst awaiting sentence.”
It comes after it was announced that six males had been sent to prison after being found guilty of coughing/spitting on police officers.
One of the males, Callum Heaton, 23, who was convicted of spitting on a police officer was sent to prison for 12 months; a sentence that would have been unheard of before the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the 6th April, another male, David Newton, 50, of Manor Road, Liscard, was sent to prison for six months after being found guilty of assault having spat on a nurse who was trying to treat him.
The CPS has said that it will take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to anyone who spits/coughs on an emergency worker (including NHS staff)
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