Spitter who attacked Tfl worker is ‘vulnerable’ – he’s got lung disease

A commuter who spat in the eye of a TfL worker was suffering from lung disease, a court heard.

Half-blind Dean Kime, 45, launched the ‘abhorrent’ attack on London Underground employee Shafiqul Chowdhury at Leicester Square tube station.

He failed to attend court for his trial and was convicted in his absence of common assault.

Bearded Kime appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for sentence today (thurs) and hung his head as his lawyer said he had been homeless and suffering lung disease at the time.

Lucy Ann Watson, defending, said Kime had been left blind in one eye after being attacked himself two years ago.

Customer service worker Mr Chowdhury revealed in a statement that he had conflicting feelings about continuing his public service job after the incident on 28 August last year.

Robert Simpson, prosecuting, said: ‘He was convicted spitting directly in the face of London Underground worker Mr Chowdhury.

‘Mr Chowdhury says: “Whilst the incident happened I felt intimidated and shocked.

‘I haven’t been able to sleep since the incident, this behaviour was unwarranted and I was reluctant to come back into work feeling upset and angry.

‘I feel anxious since the incident. I want to feel comfortable when dealing with people at work.”’

Ms Watson said: ‘[Kime] suffers from a chronic pulmonary disease, in effect a lung disease which makes him extremely vulnerable during these times. This has an immediate risk to his life.

‘A brutal assault a couple of years ago left him blind in one eye.’

District Judge Sam Goozee said: ‘Spitting in the face of anybody particularly those providing a public service, in my view warrants an immediate custodial sentence.

‘You found guilty of assault on Mr Chowdhury at a London Underground station.

‘He was acting as a member of staff providing a public service. He was dealing with you in no doubt a compassionate way and you dealt with him by spitting directly in his face, hitting in his eye.

‘An abhorrent offence and members of staff who provide a public service. You didn’t attend your trial and have failed to appear in court for these proceedings.

‘You’ve been made the subject of a suspended sentence order.

‘I have no doubt you have simply been seeking to evade these matters.’

Kime, of no fixed address, denied but was convicted of common assault.

He was sentenced to 14 weeks imprisonment suspended for a year.