A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has become the latest victim of Brighton and Hove's street drugs culture.

Jess Latham cut himself with a discarded junkie's syringe while his family was out for a Father's Day treat.

His horrified parents, Trea and Richard, feared the used needle could be infected with HIV or Hepatitis.

They rushed him to hospital where he was given urgent blood tests and treatment.

Jess now faces another two months of treatment and tests before his family can be sure he has not been infected.

Police drugs intelligence officers have launched an investigation to try to find the junkie who dumped the needle.

Brighton and Hove already has the unenviable title of being the drugs death capital of the UK.

Trea, 36, said: "I have never felt so sick in all my life as when I realised what had happened.

"We just want all parents to make sure their children know never to pick up syringes in the street."

Children She said they had taken Richard, 42, for breakfast at a caf-bar in George Street, Hove, on Sunday.

Jess had wandered off with sister Holly, ten, to look at shoes in a nearby shop window.

He saw the syringe on the pavement and picked it up because it looked similar to one he had used in a school art project.

Mrs Latham said: "We have told him not to touch anything like that in the street but he thought he would take it home and make something with it.

"Holly ran back to us to tell us what was happening and Jess walked off swinging his arms and he just nicked his leg with the needle.

"At that point he chucked it away and came over to us. Richard went and put the needle in a rubbish bin.

"We went back to the caf to wash his hands and he asked Richard what would happen if it touched his skin.

"We said you should never touch it because you could die.

"Jess said he thought he had touched it and the tears started flooding out.

"We lifted his trousers and there was a drop of blood on his leg. I have never felt so sick in my life. You are just standing there and thoughts are racing through your mind. In a flash I saw my son wasting away from HIV.

"We bundled him in the car and took him to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

"The doctors there were wonderful. They said it was unlikely he would get Aids because the virus can't survive more than a few hours on a needle."

Police confirmed they were investigating the incident and said they are working hard to crack down on street drug users and dealers.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Fortunately, this is a very rare occurrence but it must have been very worrying for Jess and his family."

Dealers She said the city's drug and alcohol action team and crime reduction initiative were working to tackle drug dealers and users.

She added: "For several years Brighton and Hove has had the unenviable title of drugs death capital of the UK.

"The fact there were such high numbers of drug addicts in the city had a huge impact on everyone.

"Not only has there been a problem with drugs-related litter but also with crime such as burglaries committed to feed their habits.

"As a result of the success so far in tackling drugs, crime has been reduced and reports of drug use have fallen by 70 per cent.

"But we will not become complacent. We simply won't tolerate the misery drug addiction brings to the community.

"Any reports to the police about drugs litter is collated and mapped for our intelligence officers."

A city council spokeswoman said its staff would take action to clean up any used needles reported to them.

She said: "Picking up needles is a top priority for the council.

"In George Street we employ a cleaner seven days a week who has a special box for needles.

"We also rely on the public to help ensure that they are disposed of safely by calling us.

"They should call us on 01273 292929 and we will respond within the hour."