Six months for station spitter

Daniel Myrie, 27, of Lisgar Terrace, West Kensington, was sentenced to six months in jail at
Westminster Magistrates' Court last Wednesday following an argument at Gloucester Road tube station on
April 4 this year.

On that day, Myrie was found with an Oyster card which did not belong to him - and was then
confiscated. It was then that Myrie propelled a wave of spit at staff in a disgusting series of attacks.

First, he spat at the ticket office window before jumping over the barriers and running down Gloucester Road, South Kensington, pursued by the British Transport Police (BTP).

On arrest, he again spat out - this time at a female police officer - before scratching her and drawing
blood as she tried to cuff him.

Not content, he continued to spit in the police van and covered its window with saliva. He also swore
at station staff during his struggle with the cops.

Manager of London Underground's workplace violence unit Aidan Harris said: "Spitting is disgusting and any attack, verbal or physical, on our staff is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone out there willing to attack a member of our staff who is just doing their job. Working closely with the police, we will do our utmost to bring offenders to justice as swiftly as possible."

BTP Detective Inspector Kate Shaw added: "People have a right to go to work without being subjected
to this sort of disgusting and criminal behaviour. I hope that the six-month sentence serves as some
justice to those he abused and assaulted during his tirade."

Myrie was found guilty of an assault on a police officer, fraud and false representation, religiously
aggravated harassment, alarm and distress against members of station
staff and two counts of criminal damage for the ticket office window and police vehicle window.