Sheffield support worker spat at by youth after thug scratched ‘spreader’ on his car

The 57-year-old, who has reported the incidents to South Yorkshire Police, believes both attacks are due to concerns that support workers and carers visiting patients in their homes could be transmitting Covid-19.

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Last Friday he was spat at by a youth in the street who called him a ‘spreader’ and yesterday his car was attacked, with ‘CV’ and ‘spreader’ scratched into the paintwork.

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His windscreen was smashed and paint stripper was thrown over his car.

“I risk my health every day to protect people, even though I'm asthmatic myself, and this is what I have to put up with, it is disgusting,” he said.

“The first incident involved a youth of around 17 who spat at me and called me a ‘spreader’ as I walked past a group. Then the words ‘CV’ and ‘spreader’ were scratched into the paintwork of my car so it would not surprise me if it was the same people.

“I have been a support worker for 17 years and you have to love the job because you barely get paid for it.

“I am helping elderly and vulnerable people in their homes who are most at risk of this virus and am actually putting my own health at risk. We don’t deserve this.”

Public Health England figures released yesterday reveal 130 people have tested positive in Sheffield.

Four have died in the city after contracting Covid-19.