Worry as attacker has superbug MRSA

TWO people suffered an anxious wait to find out if they had MRSA after they were assaulted by a Suffolk woman suffering from the infection, a court has heard.

TWO people suffered an anxious wait to find out if they had MRSA after they were assaulted by a Suffolk woman suffering from the infection, a court has heard.

Anais Peters was spat at by 33-year-old Katie Turner during an argument at Bar Karooze in Bury St Edmunds and PC Philip Howard had his arms scratched by Turner as he tried to handcuff her, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Naomi Turner told the court Ms Peters and PC Howard subsequently found out Turner had MRSA and had to wait for the results of tests to learn they hadn't been infected.

Turner, of Severn Road, Bury St Edmunds admitted two offences of common assault on Ms Peters and PC Howard and an offence of racially aggravated harassment.

She was given an eight week jail sentence suspended for 14 months and banned from entering pubs in Bury St Edmunds for three months. She was also made the subject of a 12 month supervision order and a 12 month high level drug treatment requirement.

Sentencing her Recorder Rex Bryan said it must have been extremely worrying for the people she assaulted to learn that she had MRSA.

Miss Turner said the racially aggravated harassment related to the defendant being racially abusive to Sgt David Hill, who has a Northern Ireland accent, when she was taken to a police station.

Richard Wood for Turner said her drugs worker was impressed with her motivation to sort out her drug problem.