A SENIOR prison workers union official has spoken of his disappointment at a Dorset inmate receiving no additional time behind bars for spitting in the face of an officer.

Leigh Yeo, 29, spat at HMP Guys Marsh staff member John Chapman minutes after the offender was told he had coronavirus.

Yeo's spittle landed in the eye and ear of Mr Chapman as the prison officer went to close the door of the cell on January 21 when the detention facility was facing a rising number of Covid cases.

As reported, Yeo was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court earlier this month having previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating an emergency worker.

The defendant, who appeared by video link from HMP Exeter, received a six-month prison sentence from Judge Jonathan Fuller QC.

The judge said it was "regrettable" that he was not allowed to make this sentence run consecutive to Yeo's existing term of imprisonment, which was for an offence of grievous bodily harm.

Mick Pimblett, assistant general secretary of the Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers (POA), said: "We would advocate for all sentences in relation to assaults on prison officers to be consecutive."

Mr Pimblett said the POA had been involved in the consultation on the new assaulting emergency workers offence.

In recent years there appeared to have been a rise in incidents of prisoners spitting or using other bodily fluids in physical attacks against staff, he added.

"It just shows the dangers prison officers face in their jobs," said Mr Pimblett.

The court heard that Mr Chapman was wearing a face mask when the incident happened, while health workers he was with were also wearing personal protective equipment.

Asked if more needed to be considered in terms of protecting prison workers, Mr Pimblett said: "Everything would be judged on risk. This was sudden incident so its actually very difficult to protect staff when it relates to spontaneous incidents."