Accused Man Allegedly Intentionally Exposed Partners to HIV During Sexual Assaults, UK Court Hears
A man is on trial in the UK accused of intentionally transmitting HIV to sexual partners, with prosecutors alleging he targeted vulnerable men and was aware of his HIV-positive status while engaging in non-consensual sexual activity. The court heard that the accused did not adhere to the strict medical regimen required to render the virus undetectable and therefore non-infectious.
The first complainant told authorities he was repeatedly raped at the defendant’s home in 2015 after meeting him in a bar. He initially reported the incidents to police several weeks later after seeing a social media post indicating his alleged attacker was HIV positive, but later withdrew the prosecution. He re-engaged with investigators in 2024 after learning of further investigations into the accused.
The second complainant alleges he was raped and contracted HIV in 2016 after going to the defendant’s home following an evening of drinking in a Newcastle bar.
Prosecutor Ms. Melly stated the defendant “would not dispute having HIV at the relevant times or having sex with some of the men, but would contest the ‘circumstances of the sexual interactions’ and ‘raise the issue of consent’.” Ms. Melly further alleged the defendant deliberately concealed his HIV status and “knew precisely what he was doing when he passed this virus on.” She described a pattern of targeting “young and vulnerable” men and “enjoyed the dominance” and “sex without consent.”
the court was informed that HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen, and breast milk, but not through casual contact such as spitting, sneezing, coughing, or kissing. Currently, 95% of HIV-positive individuals in the UK are on effective treatment, reducing their viral load to undetectable levels and rendering them non-infectious. However, Ms.Melly stated the defendant was “not taking the necessary” and “strict regime” of treatment to achieve this undetectable status.
