Stabbed man faces HIV wait

John Johnson says he cannot believe what has happened

A man who was stabbed with a blood-filled syringe after disturbing a car thief says he faces an agonising wait to hear whether he has contracted HIV or hepatitis.

John Johnson, from Crosby, Merseyside, said the thief laughed as he stabbed him with the syringe needle.

The father-of-two, who was taken to hospital for treatment for shock, had tried to stop his attacker and two other men from breaking into his car at about 0200 BST last Friday.

Merseyside Police have released a an e-fit of a man they want to question in connection with the incident.

Mr Johnson said: "[The man] just said 'It's full of blood', and laughed.

An e-fit has been released of Mr Johnson's attacker

"I panicked, hit him, stood back and realised it was my own blood and blood off the syringe on me."

The 33-year-old added: "I've got to wait for six months to find out if it is or if it isn't HIV.

"It's unbelievable, I don't want to go to work, it's mad what's happened."

Mr Johnson's attacker, who ran off in the direction of Blundellsands train station, is white, aged about 25 or 26, scruffy and wore a dark coloured Adidas tracksuit.

Detective Constable Dave Stanmore, of Merseyside Police, said Mr Johnson had been traumatised by the attack, adding: "Clearly the potential impact on his life is devastating.

"I would appeal for anyone who witnessed this incident to come forward and speak to the police and help us find this offender."