Woman spat on bus driver (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Woman spat on bus driver

10:16am Wednesday 21st March 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

A woman who attacked another woman three times after being refused a cigarette has been spared jail.

Miaya Bryan spat on a bus driver trying to intervene, shouting that she had hepatitis.

Bryan, 28, of Morris Street, was given a one-year suspended sentence at Swindon Crown Court, after pleading guilty to assault with intent to rob, and common assault at Swindon bus station on April 9 last year.

Philip Warren, prosecuting, told the court that Bryan attacked Michelle Read three times when she refused to give her a cigarette.

Ms Read twice managed to escape, but was followed by Bryan and co-defendant Gemma Newell, 23, of Commercial Road.

Mr Warren said: "As Bryan departed she spat at one of the bus drivers and shouted I've got heppy C.' The spittle landed on his chest and had blood in it.

"Bryan started it and played the greatest part. Bryan asked Michelle Read for a cigarette, which she declined to give her.

"Then Bryan got angry and attacked her. Bryan attacked her again, taking hold of her around the throat. The last attack was the most serious one.

"While Bryan is attacking the victim Newell tries to take things from her pockets."

Mr Warren showed the court CCTV footage from the bus station entrance showing the victim struggling to fight off her two attackers.

In a statement read to the court Ms Read said she was suffering from panic attacks, worried about being attacked and feared meeting Bryan and Newell again.

Chris Smyth, defending, said Bryan, who has been in custody since August, has now been free from drugs for the longest period in the last seven years.

Mr Smyth said: "She did not start off intending to commit robbery. She recognises she went far too far."

Judge Douglas Field said: "You have a terrible record and time after time chances have been given to you to mend your ways.

"You have taken advantage of that and gone on to re-offend, with crimes of violence, dishonesty and prostitution.

"Now you have pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob, and we have seen it on the video."

Judge Field gave Bryan a one-year suspended prison sentence, and 24-month supervision order. He warned he had already taken into consideration the 279 days she had served on remand and that if she committed further offences the time could not be deducted from her jail term.

Newell will be sentenced on April 2. She has admitted assault with intent to rob, and the theft of a bag and contents from a man on the same day.