A man has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after deliberately attempting to infect a police officer with Hepatitis C by forcing his bleeding hand into the officer’s mouth. Shea Holleywell’s actions were described by a judge at Swansea Crown Court as “disgusting” and had a significant impact on the victim. The court heard that the officer could taste Holleywell’s blood in his mouth, leading to three months of worry and repeated tests to check for the disease.
The incident occurred on July 3, when police responded to reports of a disturbance in Aberystwyth town centre. Holleywell, who was bleeding from a wound on his hand, was found shouting and claiming to be the victim of a robbery. Despite attempts to calm him down, Holleywell continued to exhibit agitated behaviour. He then revealed he had Hepatitis C and proceeded to put his bleeding hand into the officer’s mouth during a struggle.
The officer had to undergo months of uncertainty before being given the all-clear after regular blood tests. At the time of the incident, the officer’s partner was heavily pregnant, adding to the emotional toll of not knowing if he had contracted the life-long condition. Holleywell, previously convicted of five assaults on police officers, pleaded guilty to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent, assaulting an emergency worker, and battery.
In court, Holleywell’s defence explained that he had been homeless and struggling with anxiety and depression since losing his job in 2018. The judge condemned Holleywell’s actions as “disgusting” and acknowledged the impact on the victim. With a guilty plea, Holleywell was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, with additional sentences for assaulting a female police officer and his partner, to run concurrently. He was also ordered to serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
The judge highlighted that Holleywell’s behaviour had been “out of control” in recent times, leading to this severe sentence. The officer, who had to endure the uncertainty and fear of potential infection, stated that living with the dread of Hepatitis C had deeply affected what should have been a special period in his life. The court proceedings concluded with Holleywell expressing remorse for his actions and reflecting on his behaviour since being remanded into custody.