Michael John Molloy pleads guilty to spitting on women at Sunshine Coast University Hospital

Three women, including a nurse, have been subjected to disgusting assaults at the hands of a man with a viral infection.

Michael John Molloy pictured in 2012 at the Fraser Coast. Picture: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

A painter with hepatitis C will be released back into the community next week after a series of appalling attacks on three women, including two acts of spitting on two of them.

Maroochydore District Court heard Michael John Molloy went to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital on May 28 last year after a several day ice bender wanting medication to treat his massive comedown.

What instead transpired was a series of deplorable incidents which were retold in court on Tuesday after pleas of guilty to two counts of wilful damage and one count each of serious assault, common assault, robbery with personal violence and public nuisance.

Crown prosecutor Nicola Hamilton said Molloy arrived at the hospital in Birtinya in the early afternoon where he presented himself to the mental health ward while suffering from meth withdrawal.

Ms Hamilton said the man was warned multiple times about his behaviour before he was eventually told to leave.

While being escorted out by security about 7pm, Molloy began verbally abusing one of the nurses, called her a “c--t” and a “piece of s--t” and spat in her face. Some saliva went into her mouth and eyes.

Ms Hamilton said the woman knew Molloy had hepatitis C, a viral infection which affects a person’s liver and spreads through bodily fluids.

Molloy in 2012. Picture: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

Molloy then punched a wall and ripped a sanitiser dispenser off the wall before he made his way outside. The doors were locked behind him.

The court heard the 37-year-old then approached a female patient and her friend sitting outside having a cigarette where he demanded they give him a “f---ing smoke”.

Ms Hamilton said the women told him no and asked him to leave them alone when he pushed one of them in the chest and spat in the other’s face as he screamed at them.

Molloy threatened to assault the women when one of them threw a cigarette on the ground and let him use their lighter while he violently bellowed for it.

The woman left while Molloy called them “fat dogs” before he threw a canned drink at a nearby car. He then kicked it before he jumped on it which caused the vehicle damage.

Police arrived at the scene and took him away. He was remanded in custody for 357 days before his sentence on Tuesday.

Ms Hamilton tendered three victim impact statements to the court where all the women spoke of the lasting psychological impacts of the attacks, including the women who had to undergo months of disease tests.

The court heard the nurse particularly felt burdened by the fact she did not want to pass on the possible illness to her five children. Ms Hamilton said she was unable to return to her chosen job at the mental health ward.

The other two women spoke of having nightmares, vivid flashbacks and had fears of going into public.

Judge Glen Cash reflected on their statements and lashed Molloy’s “selfish and self centred behaviour”, which Ms Hamilton also called “degrading”.

The incident occurred at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in Birtinya. Picture: NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Defence barrister Lily Brisick said according to the body worn camera footage, Molloy attended the nurse’s station for unspecific medication and was told he could not have it.

Ms Brisick claimed the nurse told Molloy: “I told you if you interrupted my break you would be discharged” after already calling security.

The barrister said as security escorted the 37-year-old outside he told the officers: “don’t discharge me I’ll end up in prison”.

“His conduct escalated, and that’s exactly what happened,” Ms Brisick said.

She told the court the Sydney-born painter, who had extensive criminal history in Queensland, NSW and South Australia, tried to find drug rehabilitation in the weeks before his arrest but had no luck.

He was using a “half a ball” or 1.75g a day for days straight and went to hospital to detox.

Ms Brisick said it was a “short course of conduct” which erupted due to frustration and his inability to control his drug-fuelled aggression.

“It would have been terrifying, he’s a large man,” she conceded.

The barrister asked for a sentence which would allow for his release from jail soon, citing long wait times for parole to be granted by the parole board.

Judge Cash took this into account despite the “horrible verbal abuse” and appalling conduct by Molloy when giving him a three-year jail sentence.

His parole release date was set at May 28, taking into account the nearly 12 months he had already spent in custody.