A woman who admitted assaulting a man at the bus terminal and spitting at officers was sentenced yesterday to time served.

Saudia Virgil, 49, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court of assaulting Joseph Fray in Pembroke and officers at the Hamilton Police Station on March 23.

She first appeared in court for the matters the next day, but the matter was set back so that a mental health report could be carried out.

The court heard that at about 4pm, officers attended the Hamilton Bus terminal after receiving a report of an assault. Once there, the officers were told by Mr Fray that he had been sitting on a bench when Virgil shoved him in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground. He then left the area out of fear that she was going to attack him further.

The officers then received word that Virgil was still at the bus terminal. They went to speak with her, but she fled, running down Victoria Street. When she was stopped, she admitted shoving Mr Fray, saying he had insulted her.

Virgil was taken to Hamilton Police Station to be processed, but the court heard she was very uncooperative. When officers told her she was going to be detained, she responded: “I’m not going in that cell. I have Aids.”

She then began spitting at the officers, who backed away to avoid contact with her saliva. They subsequently used an open umbrella to approach her without being spat on and placed her in a cell.

Speaking in court, Virgil apologised for her actions saying: “I will never do that again. It’s not worth it.”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo noted that Virgil had remained in custody since her arrest, sentencing her to time already served.