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Bitten PC's nightmare ordeal
Exclusive By Ben Frampton
PC Kevin Shill
PC Kevin Shill

A GWENT Police officer bitten by a man with hepatitis C spoke of the "worst six months of my life" waiting to receive the all-clear.

PC Kevin Shill, 43, was attacked while searching John Wooff for drugs in Lower Dock Street, Newport on May 5 last year.

The man bit his hand and wouldn't let go for around 15 seconds: "I screamed, pleading with him to let go," said PC Shill.

After Wooff bit him, PC Shill said he laughed and told him he had the disease.

He then had to undergo a series of three blood tests over six months, and could only receive the all-clear after the final test.

"It was the worst six months of my life and the darkest six months," he said.

The incident also affected his family life as he has two children, aged five and three, who he had to distance himself from.

When he cut himself fitting a wardrobe, he had to keep his children away: "It's not very nice almost running away from your children."

John Wooff
John Wooff

He couldn't work until he had been given the all clear, and returned to duty in November.

He said after being given the all-clear, it was "sheer relief."

Wooff, 35, of Duke Street, Abertillery, appeared at Cardiff Crown court yesterday for obstructing the PC and burglary.

The court heard how Wooff and a another man, Christopher Chapman, 29 of Rectory Villas, Crumlin had raided the home of a 95-year-old retired teacher Clifford Collier in the early hours of November 10 last year while he was asleep and stole spirits, a wallet and a wristwatch.

Wooff denied being involved but the jury heard that the glass fragments found on his clothing matched the glass from the patio door.

Wooff's counsel, Jeffrey Jones said: "For some time he has had a class A drug problem. At one time he had benefited from a drug rehabilitation scheme run by Kaleidoscope in Newport."

He was jailed for five years for burglary and 18 months imprisonment to run concurrently for obstructing PC Shill.

Chapman was sentenced to three years for burglary.

10:40am Friday 9th May 2008

   

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