A CONCERNED police officer is waiting for the result of a blood test that will reveal whether he has contracted hepatitis C from a drunk who spat in his face.

The officer was fearful as soon as Jason Hynam's saliva made contact with his eyes, North Avon Magistrates' Court heard.

The officer, who asked not to be named, had a blood test last week, but will not find out whether he has been infected with the liver-damaging virus until next month.

Prosecuting, Graham Dono said in the early hours of September 18, police were called to Stanshaws Close, Bradley Stoke, after a complaint about Hynam.

When police officers spoke to the 32-year-old he swore at them and threatened to rip their throats out.

Eventually, Hynam had to be pepper sprayed and when it emerged he had possibly taken an overdose, he was taken to Frenchay Hospital.

Mr Dono said in the hospital he continued to "lash out" and use "disgraceful language".

At 3.40am he kicked out, damaging a lamp and wall fittings.

At 4.10am, a PC went into Hynam's cubicle at which point he spat twice in he officer's face, leaving "globules of spit on his forehead and cheek".

"The officer was shocked and upset at the actions," said Mr Dono.

Concerned he may be at risk of contracting hepatitis C from Hynam, the officer washed his face immediately, but some of the saliva had got in his eyes.

In a victim impact statement, he said he immediately knew there was a chance the saliva or any blood in the spit, could enter his own bloodstream.

"I've never felt so disgusted," added the 32-year-old officer. "The feeling of the saliva was awful. I also had the instant fear that I might have contracted hepatitis C."

Since the attack, the officer, who responds to emergency calls every day, has lost some of his confidence and gets concerned about confrontations.

He also had to break the news to his partner that he might be infected. On October 31 he had a blood test, but the results can take six weeks to come back.

The officer added: "Any time I have a spare few minutes, I think about this."

In his statement, he also said if the test results were positive he would be scared about having children in the future, in case the disease was passed on to them.

Defending Hynam, who assaulted a police officer two years ago, Giles Tippett said his client used to be a drug addict, but when he kicked that habit he replaced it with alcohol.

He said that he had been making efforts to stay "dry", but had drunk a lot of alcohol on the night of the incident.

He said Hynam, who also suffers from cirrhosis of the liver and depression, showed remorse about what he had done that night.

Hynam, a father, is making determined steps to rehabilitate and beat his addiction, the court was told.

He admitted assaulting a police officer, using threatening, insulting or abusive words and behaviour in Stanshaws Close, causing people to fear unlawful violence.

He also admitted threatening behaviour towards the police at Frenchay Hospital and criminal damage.

Sentence was adjourned for a probation report to be carried out.