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DNA test traps a spitting yob
Exclusive By Brian Lashley and Stan Miller7/ 9/2005
A MOTORIST has been convicted of assaulting a traffic warden after being trapped by a £1 DNA "spit kit".
Dennis Samms, 42, repeatedly spat in the face of the warden and drove his car at him. He was caught after his saliva was collected and analysed using a new DNA testing kit issued to wardens.
He is the first driver in the country to be convicted on evidence gained in this way.
Samms, 42, of Kingfisher Close, Ardwick, was warned by a judge that he could face jail for the attack. The DNA testing kits have been introduced by parking giants NCP to help trace people who spit at traffic wardens.
Salvia is collected on a swab and cross-checked against millions of DNA profiles on the police national computer in order to identify the offender. Manchester magistrates' court was told the parking attendant was in the process of issuing a ticket because Samms' vehicle had an out-of-date tax disc when the defendant began spitting in his face.
Camera phone
The court heard that Samms then drove at the attendant, who was forced to take cover behind a parking meter - but not before taking a photo with his camera phone. The warden had to wait with salvia dripping from his glasses and face for around four minutes until a team leader from NCP, arrived with a "spit kit". Samms pleaded guilty to assaulting a traffic warden by spitting.
District Judge Paul Richardson told Samms: "In these days of HIV and Aids spitting in this fashion takes on a hugely more serious aspect.
"You did no physical injury but the incident must have frightened your victim most severely - I'm not ruling out a custodial sentence."
Peter Casson, defending said Samms who was partially paralysed and became frustrated because he felt the attendant wasn't listening to him. He said: "He accepts there was no excuse for what he did and he is genuinely full of remorse."
The traffic warden, John, whose surname we have agreed not to use, said: "I'm glad he was taken to court and pleaded guilty. It's not very nice to be abused when you are trying to do your job. Hopefully this will help people realise that they can't get away with doing this."
Tim Cowen, a spokesman for NCP, said: "One assault is one too many and no one should have to put up with being spat at just for doing their job."
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said DNA swabs taken from parking attendants are sent for analysis and can lead to a prosecution for common assault.
Samms was remanded on bail until tomorrow for sentence.
Train staff in Manchester have been using DNA testing kits in a crackdown on yob passengers since the start of last year. One man was jailed for a month earlier this year after the kit was used.
Most recent 2 of 27 user comments
Here are some facts:-
Each Parking Attendant receives one week of training in a classroom. He/She then joins their team for on-street training and after approximately 2 weeks they then go out on their own.
In the last 10 days, there has been 3 code reds, 2 Assaults and 1 where a car was driven towards another PA who had issued to someone parked on Double Yellow Lines. By the way just to show fairness, this one was a white man.
We have also had 11 code yellows which are verbal assaults.
Do NCP do anything?
YES, they restrict their hours of working, they take away the one Saaturday that the wardens get off a month to cover the football at Sportscity. They then keep 45% of new trainees on the lol wage of B#5.44 ph for another 3 months to keep the costs down.
It is about time they gave these guys & girls what they need, better facilities, better pay especially when working out of town, More Pay in general as during a normal week, 850 tickets are issued in Manchester with only 300 of them properly being cancelled and blame on the PA and not the company for not passing out communications.
Also, Manchester City Council officials should come out more often and see what it is like down at the pound or what it is like out on the streets on Manchester, it is dangerous.
If you receive any comments on the streets, they normally from non-drivers, local scum who will never work or passengers in a car!
I am one of those wardens and I work hard just to bring in B#850 a month to pay the bills and pay for my family whom I feel responsible for, care for and love, so I am just like most of you, I need to work to make a living, it is just that this job was the only one I could get which works around the children in school and works within my time to have some time at home with the kids.
Thanks and to all my colleagues at NCP, Thanks and to the bosses, Thanks for nothing! Start looking and listening to your teams as without them you will not be able to provide the service you require.
11/09/2005 at 16:20
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Was BBC right to let Wossy back to work?
Help us to help the other PA on the job.
14/09/2005 at 09:12
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