UK: Judge directs jury in Leicester reckless HIV transmission trial to find Zimbabwe migrant, 32, not guilty of one of two charges due to lack of evidence, but he is found guilty on other charge, sentenced to 4 1/2 years

An HIV-positive man has had a charge of knowingly infecting a woman with the virus thrown out of court. Judge Michael Pert QC ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove the man on trial was the only person from whom she could have contracted the virus. He directed a jury at Leicester Crown Court to find the 32-year-old defendant not guilty of a grievous bodily harm allegation.

However, the jury convicted the 32-year-old of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a partner, with whom he had a child. He failed to tell her he was HIV positive during their two-and-a-half year relationship, which began when she was 16. She regularly had unprotected sex with him, between 2006 and 2008, without realising she was at risk – and only found out when medical staff at a clinic told her.

The court heard the defendant, who denied the offence, said he warned all sexual partners of his status. He came to the UK from Zimbabwe when he was a teenager and has indefinite leave to remain here. He is now with a partner who is said to also have the virus and has a baby with him.

He was jailed for four-and-a-half years.