A HOMELESS man given an anti-social behaviour order for trying to spread tuberculosis (TB) has gone on trial in Oxford Crown Court.

David Goodwin, of no fixed address, was given the order on October 30 last year by Oxford Magistrates’ Court and is now accused of breaching it by spitting inside a medical centre.

Prosecutor Naomi Perry told a jury yesterday that the 50-year-old was on trial for an incident at the Luther Street Medical Centre in Oxford on January 7 this year.

She said: “In February 2014 this defendant, unfortunately for him, was diagnosed with tuberculosis and he was told how infectious he was to other people.

“In October 2014, a court order was made – namely an Asbo – forbidding him from doing a number of things, but they included threatening and abusing and harassing people, coughing or spitting at any person while he has TB, or trying to spread TB.

“He had to attend a clinic daily to take his medicine, about 12 pills per day.

“The crown’s case is when he attended to take his medicine, he became aggressive and threatening and he spat at nurses.”

Half-way through Miss Perry’s opening speech, Goodwin started shouting from the dock and the case was adjourned until this morning.

He denies breaching the Asbo.