Date published: 8 January 2020

A 44-year-old man who spat in the face of a frontline colleague on Christmas Day has been sent to prison.

Nicholas Watkins, of no fixed address, appeared before Lincoln Magistrates Court on 30 December for the Assault of an Emergency Worker.

The incident happened at 11.10 hours on 25 December in Derby.

Watkins pleaded guilty and was given an 18-weeks prison sentence and ordered to pay compensation of £100.

Mark Ward, Local Security Management Specialist, said: "Our frontline colleagues, as well as our team in our 999 control room, signed up to do this job so that they can help people, not to be assaulted.

"We will not tolerate assaults of any nature against our staff, and we will continue to pursue a conviction against anyone who thinks that it is acceptable to assault them."