A POLICE officer who feared he had contracted hepatitis C after a drunk spat in his eye has been given the all-clear.

Pc Dave Smith, of South-ampton Central police, today spoke of his relief after going through three agonising months of blood tests to see if he had become infected.

The 39-year-old said the incident had affected both his police and private life.

At one stage he even feared his police career would be over if he had contracted the infectious liver disease.

Pc Smith, deputy head of Southampton's crack town centre unit, said: "I am very relieved it is all over.

"This has been hanging over me for 12 weeks. It has had effects on every aspect of my life.

"Had I contracted the disease, I would have become contagious and would have been extremely unlikely to have been allowed to continue in the police."

Pc Smith was spat at while attending an incident with plain-clothed colleagues at Southampton's DSS office on July 16.

Staff had confiscated a bottle of alcohol from a drunk who was refusing to leave the Bernard Street premises.

The man was foul-mouthed and abusive in front of customers and children, and was handcuffed by police.

Outside a struggle continued, during which Pc Smith was spat at in his left eye.

It was not until 35 minutes later that transport for the prisoner arrived, allowing Pc Smith to dash to Boots for some eye-wash.

He did not realise the suspect was carrying hepatitis C until colleagues discovered a medical document warning that the man was highly contagious.

"I was extremely shocked when I found out," said Pc Smith.

"Although I knew the risk of becoming infected was extremely unlikely, I also knew it was not impossible. There have been reports of disease being contracted through spitting in the face."

After the incident a Southampton man was charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

He later admitted a lesser charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and received a 15-day jail sentence from Southampton magistrates.

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