A FOUL-MOUTHED thug faces prison after he spat at an accident and emergency nurse in hospital.

Thomas Reed had gone to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton over concerns for his health.

But the 37-year-old swore at other patients and was angry he was not getting help for his alcoholism.

He was seen shouting in the main reception at other patients, and when asked to stop swearing he called one nurse a c***.

Another nurse tried to calm him down, so he spat at her and stormed off.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court it was revealed he suffered a brain injury in 2015 and has battled homelessness, alcoholism and substance misuse.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said the offence took place on October 7 last year, and when he was arrested said: “So what? I spat at someone.”

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But after sobering up he sobbed in his interview with police and accepted it was “disgusting to spit at a nurse when they are there to help him”.

Ms Sherlock said Reed also sent obscene messages to his estranged family members in June and July last year.

He wrote a message to his father Christopher Reed about his son where he vowed to "knock you both into next week.”

Reed also wrote: “I will rip both of your hearts out and ram them down your mouths.”

In the same night of drunken messages he abused his sister Tracy, saying he wished his whole family would die and branding his mother a s***.

To his sister he wrote: “I honestly hope you have a heart attack you fat c***.”

To his niece he wrote: “I hope you rot in a shallow pit of rats.”

Ms Sherlock said Reed, of Montpelier Road, Brighton, has ten previous convictions for 16 offences.

Reed’s solicitor said his client admitted his “appalling behaviour” and said his client was “apologising profusely” to police for spitting towards a nurse. The defendant had sent the vile messages to his family when he found himself in his accommodation alone, and felt isolated and started drinking.

“He deeply regrets sending those messages, and is deeply saddened for all involved,” the solicitor said.

Magistrates agreed to adjourn the case for six weeks to allow Reed to meet the probation service and get a pre sentence report.

He is due to appear in court again in March, where he could face a prison sentence.