Dennis Samms, 42, repeatedly spat in the face of the warden and drove his car at him. He was caught after his saliva was collected and analysed using a new DNA testing kit issued to wardens.
He is the first driver in the country to be convicted on evidence gained in this way.
Samms, 42, of Kingfisher Close, Ardwick, was warned by a judge that he could face jail for the attack. The DNA testing kits have been introduced by parking giants NCP to help trace people who spit at traffic wardens.
Salvia is collected on a swab and cross-checked against millions of DNA profiles on the police national computer in order to identify the offender. Manchester magistrates' court was told the parking attendant was in the process of issuing a ticket because Samms' vehicle had an out-of-date tax disc when the defendant began spitting in his face.
Camera phone
The court heard that Samms then drove at the attendant, who was forced to take cover behind a parking meter - but not before taking a photo with his camera phone. The warden had to wait with salvia dripping from his glasses and face for around four minutes until a team leader from NCP, arrived with a "spit kit". Samms pleaded guilty to assaulting a traffic warden by spitting.
District Judge Paul Richardson told Samms: "In these days of HIV and Aids spitting in this fashion takes on a hugely more serious aspect.
"You did no physical injury but the incident must have frightened your victim most severely - I'm not ruling out a custodial sentence."
Peter Casson, defending said Samms who was partially paralysed and became frustrated because he felt the attendant wasn't listening to him. He said: "He accepts there was no excuse for what he did and he is genuinely full of remorse."
The traffic warden, John, whose surname we have agreed not to use, said: "I'm glad he was taken to court and pleaded guilty. It's not very nice to be abused when you are trying to do your job. Hopefully this will help people realise that they can't get away with doing this."
Tim Cowen, a spokesman for NCP, said: "One assault is one too many and no one should have to put up with being spat at just for doing their job."
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said DNA swabs taken from parking attendants are sent for analysis and can lead to a prosecution for common assault.
Samms was remanded on bail until tomorrow for sentence.
Train staff in Manchester have been using DNA testing kits in a crackdown on yob passengers since the start of last year. One man was jailed for a month earlier this year after the kit was used.
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I thought we were always being told that you couldn't contract HIV and AIDS from saliva? Make your minds up - you can't use allegations such as these if they aren't true, and if they are, then the public needs to know!
I wish the police would stop people spitting in the street too. It's disgusting.
Caroline, I think you've lost the plot on this story. It's about spitting. Regardless whether or not you can catch anything through this, the act itself is totally disgusting, and to have someone do this onto your face, not once but many times is just plain backwards. I truly hope this person is handed a custodial sentence. This will allow him to reflect on his Neanderthal personality, and be a warning to others that this behaviour is not tolerated.
Public service officials/shopworkers/security guards/pub and bar doorman etc (whoever they are) uniformed or not have a job to do, and it is wrong that the general public can assault them in this way and get away with it, these spit kits should be issued to more public service people and more prosecutions of those responsible should follow;it is a form of assault and a very unpleasant on at that.
In what way does this man being partially paralysed excuse what he did? It's a disgusting habit that spreads germs. I doubt it transmits AIDS, but certainly TB.
Well you wont catch many people spitting at a traffic warden after this, now they'll resort to punching them as there is less chance of being caught!!!
Yes... I'm glad that this man has been caught and charged. I hope they throw the book at him. Maybe then people will learn that this is inacceptable behaviour. I am a Bus Driver and this is the new way of assaulting the drivers. It has happened to me a few times because passengers didn't want to pay for their journey. And yes... you can catch diseases including TB and hepatitis from spitting. Traffic wardens are necessary and they have my backing all the way. By the way lads... get down to Chrolton or Burton Road in West Didsbaury and issue some tickets there!!!
nice one john ! ! !
proud of him ,
Those wardens get a terrible time of it .
Maybe if the warden had listened to him he wouldnt have had to spit at him. Traffic wardens are people who want authority but cant become police officers etc cos they are not up to the job. Generally they are a right bunch of weapons.
Another example of pond life who indulge in the sorts of anti-social and disrespectful behaviour that is widespread in Manchester and across Britain. Mr Blair talks of bringing back "respect" for others and society - some evidence would be nice! This kind of behaviour is all to common (..the main difference being that this scumbag has actually been caught!). Until people are actually fearful of the repurcussions of their anti-social and criminal actions, nothing will change.
To Tim, Manchester. You are a sad individual. Let's hope that if someone spits at you, you find it really amusing, and from you comments I assume you park wherever you like and drive without a tax disk.
Maybe these Spit kits can be used more often. Many a time i am walking to work in the morning and walk through disgusting and gut wrenching piles of spit on the pavement... and often see the same on buses aswell. It is possibly the vilest act possible. If dropping cig ends is now an offence surely spitting in the street and spreading germs and disease, and knocking people physically SICK should be an offence higher than dropping cig ends. Also, on entering this country, immigrants, tourists and visitors should be told in no uncertain terms that they may see it as harmless from where they come from, but we DO NOT (or rather, should not) tolerate spitting in this country - it really is a HUGE problem that needs tackling. Also, residents of this country should start recieving ASBOs against spitting. People dont even think twice to spitting in public places and on other people without a thought about the consequences to the people they are spitting on, or the people who are treading in or putting their bags down on their vile bodily fluids - this is simply anti social behaviour and should seriously be treated as so.
Something needs to be done, and fast. This is a problem far more serious that people think.
Spitting is an abhorent cthing to do at the best of times but to spit at someone who is only doing their job? And safe in the knowledge that you can drive away and think nothing of IT? Well this goes to show you can't.
What this man did was disgusting and wrong but I am sure his family and friends have been telling him ever since. How does it help putting him in prison. Who is not ashamed of something they have done. Make him do community work and get people to keep reminding him how horrible he was that will be punishment enough.
Lock up the scum - he's not that disabled that he could n't get in his car and drive it at the warden is he? Zero tolerance !
Tim, bet you are the sort of muppet that parks in the disabled bays in supermarkets too. Sending him to prison won't do any good, the dirty pig should be made to clean his victims car every week for a year, I'm damn sure he'd think twice about doing it again in future.
So basically, dont spit at traffic wardens - Just punch them in the face and take their mobile phone and their parking ticket machine, and you can get away with it??????
LOL
Of course scum like Samms should be put away. People carrying out valuable public service should be protected from pond life like him.
Presumably if it had been the other way round the bleeding hearts brigade would be banging on about racism. Will this be recorded as a race crime?
My mum used to be a traffic warden until her accident and I know she wouldn't like to be spat at just for going about her job. We must get tough on these peoples.
the real problem is there is no respect any more and its being going on now for 30 years or so, our whole way of life is slowly but surley going down hill and its all to do with people such as this man.
He's probably a Bolton Wanderers fan !
Tim if you could read you would have read that the guy wasn't getting a parking ticket, just getting reported for no tax on his car. No tax, no insurance. Next time let him drive around and hit one of your loved ones, without the spit.
Me, Longsight, Hear, Hear! This person had no tax, hence NO INSURANCE! It's about time justice starts to protect the innocent, law abiding citizens of Manchester. This person has no concept of curiosity towards his fellow people. He deserves everything thrown at him. Once he learns BASIC respect towards fellow humans, let him rot in prison. And this is not a black issue as commented on the other thread. It's about a man who spat in the face of a worker, then drove his car it him, and was found to have no tax. Black and disabled with personal problems is no excuse. I have debts, high mortgage, bad back and divorced, but I repect the laws of this land and respect the people around me.
Thanks Thomas, finally someone with some sense. There will be more of these kind of people bought to justice.
Steve, Chorlton. Do you know how many cctv cameras there are in the city centre? Hitting them! You may as well go straight to Bootle St police station. Then if you are man enough confess to the assault an robbery. MUPPET.