STUDENT SPAT ON WOMAN IN WHEELCHAIR IN NOTTINGHAM STREET AND IS FINED £100
A student must pay £100 compensation for spitting on a woman who uses a wheelchair on a busy street.The incident prompted a witness to chase Henry Lynch-Bell into the intu Victoria Centre and report his to staff before he was later detained, city magistrates heard.
Other people gathered around and offered tissues to wipe the spittle from the victim's collar.
As well as paying compensation to her, the 21-year-old was fined £100 and must do 120 hours community work.
Presiding magistrate Kevin Beardsall told him: "This is totally unacceptable behaviour." Nottingham Trent University student Lynch-Bell replied: "I understand." The JP, who sat with two colleagues, went on: "You are of previous good character and I hope this is out of character.
"The impact that it would have had on a person in a wheelchair in the middle of Nottingham city would have been psychological and emotional.
"It is a serious offence because there was an element of premeditation and there was a vulnerable victim in this case." Ben Payne, prosecuting, said that the incident took place at 12.40pm on August 30 on Clumber Street.
"A female was in a wheelchair and a male came up behind her before leaning forwards and spat at her." "The female said she heard a loud whistling to her left side and thought it was the wind," said Mr Payne.
When people told her what had happened, she became "upset and disgusted and began to cry," he added.
"He recognises this was disgusting and is very sorry it happened.
He has instructed me not to go into a blame game," said Mr Brown.
He told the court that Lynch-Bell hopes to work in construction management when he graduates.
