Woman receives injury from used needle in public toilets

A woman has had to undergo "months of blood tests" following an injury from a used needle in the public toilets in Totnes. 

A woman was injured by a used needle which had been "hidden within the toilet roll holder" while using the public toilets on Coronation Road, Totnes, according to the police.

Totnes Police said: "This is unacceptable and has understandably caused the female a great deal of distress and has resulted in the need for medication and months of blood tests to ensure her health remains unaffected by this.

"Since this incident the public facilities have been more regularly checked on by your local policing team and South Hams District Council have been updated for their awareness and extra vigilance. We have not discovered any more needles used or otherwise and believe it was an isolated incident.

"Should you or anyone you know be in the situation where you need to dispose of a used needle, whether it is for medication or for illegal drugs, you should contact the local pharmacy to see if they have a local scheme and may be able to provide you with a sharps bin. Alternatively you can contact the local council who will be able to advise you on the local procedures for safely disposing of needles.

"You definitely should not disguise them in such a place that could cause harm to another person."

We hope the woman involved is fully recovered from what must have been a deeply disturbing and scary incident.

Main image: Steven Depolo, Flickr, a hypodermic needle