Torment of victim of evil needle trap

As the 27 year-old went to sit on the seat in a public toilet he felt a stabbing pain in his back.

A hypodermic needle had been wedged behind the seat.

Now the couple have been advised by the their GP to delay their plans to start a family until it can be proven that he is not carrying the deadly virus.

The couple have reported the wickedly-devised trap to both the police and to Rother council.

Both have asked for their identities to be kept secret. They fear they will be ostracised because of the potential threat the husband faces.

Dirty hypodermic needles used by drug takers are one of the commonest causes of HIV - which can lead to AIDS.

David and Gillian (not their real names) were out walking on Sunday afternoon when David fell victim to a plot which at best will change their lives for ever and which at worst could cost David his life.

Gillian said: "We were walking along the seafront. My husband went into the public toilets near the bottom of Galley Hill.

"When he sat down a needle wedged behind the toilet stabbed him in the small of the back.

"He's got a cut or scratch about an inch and half long where he jumped when it went into him and got up quickly.

"It's gone into him because it drew blood - and that's the problem.

"We don't know what the needle had been used for. We were in such a state we didn't pick it up. We just left it there.

"He's been to our GP and he sent him immediately to the Conquest Hospital.

"He's had tests for Hepatitis B and C. He has to wait five days for them, so we should get them on Friday.

"But we will have to wait three months before we will know if he is HIV positive.

"My husband is very panicky now- really panicky.

"We can't stop thinking about it. He doesn't know what to do. We were trying for a baby as well. That's put that on hold- just in case."

Gillian and David find it difficult to express how they feel about anyone vindictive enough deliberately to wedge a hypodermic needle where anyone using the public toilet would be bound to stab themselves on it.

Gillian says: "There is no doubt - it was put there on purpose. If they are a user they could have disposed on it down a drain or broken the needle and put the cap on it.

"But, no, they had to put it behind the toilet where he would stab himself on it."

The couple reported the incident first to Rother.

"We went to the Town Hall. They said it was an isolated incident and there was nothing they could do about it but they would be in contact."

David and Gillian have lived in Bexhill for three years.

Gillian said: "It hasn't changed our opinion of the town. But neither of us will ever want to use a public toilet again...

Rother leader Cllr Graham Gubby said: "Obviously, I am horrified.

"But it does not mean that we have a problem with drug addicts using our public toilets. Far from it. I am sure that this is a one-off situation.

"I am obviously horrified because the consequences for the victim could be fatal.

"This is a matter which we will obviously draw to the attention of our contractors for their safety."

Inspector Max Mosley said: "I think this is a problem in public toilets. In some places they fit ultra violet lights in toilets.

"You cannot 'jack up' if you can't see a vein and you can't see a vein under ultra violet light.

"It is evidence of the drugs culture which, a lot of the time, is hidden. What they are going to do is use this sort of place which is out of view. But they also use the beach."