A police officer faced an agonising wait for HIV and hepatitis C test results after pricking himself on a drug addict’s used needle.
Pc Lee Munro was searching a suspect at a Tesco Express store in Edinburgh’s Foutainbridge area when his pinkie finger was pierced.
The constable was immediately put on a course of hepatitis vaccinations in rapid doses and HIV medication.
But after three days, doctors were able to give Pc Munro the all-clear as he tested negative for both viruses.
The needle belonged to James Nimmo who had been detained at the Tesco after brandishing a wine bottle at staff and making violent threats.
Nimmo appeared from custody at the city’s sheriff court on Friday and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
The 41-year-old also admitted knowing he had an uncapped needle in his pocket and letting Pc Munro search him, exposing him to the risk of injury and infection.
Fiscal depute Jennifer McLaren said two Tesco workers had stopped Nimmo in the shop at around 9am.
Ms McLaren told how Nimmo brandished the glass bottle at them before cops were called.
The court heard officers asked Nimmo if he had anything sharp on his person and he answered “no”.
Ms McLaren said Pc Munro was wearing disposable gloves when he checked Nimmo’s jacket pocket and was pierced by the needle.
She said the needle was “dirty and had been used”.
Pc Munro visited both Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Forth Valley Hospital to receive treatment.
Blood samples were taken and he was placed on HIV medication for 28 days and given a hepatitis vaccine following the incident on February 2 last year.
Ms McLaren said the constable was alerted on February 5 that he had tested negative for HIV and hepatitis C.
Defence agent Brian Gilfedder said his client was “heavily addicted to heroin” at the time.
Mr Gilfedder said Nimmo described himself as “out of his face” and he had “very little recollection” of events.
Sheriff Wendy Sheehan deferred sentence on Nimmo, of the city’s Leith area, until next month for reports.
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