AN ASSAULT victim is suffering an agonising wait for blood test results after being bitten by an offender who is HIV positive and has Hepatitis C.

The 50-year-old man, who went to the aid of a woman challenging a suspected shoplifter, is still waiting to discover whether he has contracted Hepatitis from Aaron Hoey.

He was given the all-clear after HIV tests following the assault outside Iceland in Poole Road, Westbourne on Monday August 7.

Detective Constable Matthew Manners, of Bournemouth CID, said: "The victim in this case showed great courage in going to the aid of the staff member and was subjected to a nasty assault by Hoey.

“As well as the immediate injuries he suffered, he has also suffered weeks of uncertainty and distress while awaiting the results of the blood tests to see if he has contracted a serious disease."

A spokesperson for the National AIDS Trust said: "It is deeply concerning that, to add to the distress already caused to them, the victims of assaults are given inaccurate and misleading information on the level of risk they face.

"The risk of contracting HIV from spitting, even if blood-stained, or from biting is extremely low. There has never been a case of HIV transmission through spitting, and only a handful from biting in the history of the epidemic.

"In biting cases, the biter is the one facing the risk of becoming infected. Yet distressed individuals appear to have been advised to wait to take HIV tests when seemingly unnecessary.”

Hoey, 38 and homeless, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court after admitting charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and theft.

DC Manners added: "I hope this case shows that offenders who commit violent assaults of this nature will be dealt with and brought to justice before the courts."

The court heard that at around 5.45pm on August 7 this year Dorset Police received a report of an assault outside Iceland.

Hoey had allegedly been seen to conceal a toothbrush inside his coat when inside the store and also put a bag of sweets into his pocket before attempting to leave without paying.

A member of staff challenged Hoey outside the store and the victim went to assist her.

The defendant tried to get past the man, who took hold of Hoey’s jacket to stop him leaving. Hoey then pushed his victim, causing him to stumble backwards and hit the back of his head against a wall.

The man still had hold of Hoey, who then ended up on top of him. The defendant bit the victim on the right side of his face, near to his eye. Hoey went to bite him again but the man moved his head away and released his grip on the defendant, who got up and walked away.

The victim was left with a bite mark to the right side of his face and grazes on the back of his head.

Hoey was located later that evening at a bus stop in Poole Road and subsequently arrested on suspicion of assault.