Kamal Ghorui
A man in the UK has been given a life sentence after he was found guilty of infecting several young men and teenage boys with HIV, in what the court described as a deliberate and harmful pattern of abuse.Adam Hall, 43, was sentenced at a court in Newcastle to life in prison, with a minimum term of 23 years. He was convicted of infecting seven victims between 2016 and 2023, including two boys aged 15 and 17, the BBC reported.The court heard that he met many of his victims online or at bars and targeted those he believed were vulnerable. Prosecutors said he knowingly avoided taking medication that would have reduced the risk of spreading HIV and failed to inform his partners about his condition.According to the court, Hall had been warned multiple times by health professionals about the dangers of his behaviour. Despite this, he continued to have unprotected sex and misled his partners about his health status.Several victims told the court how the experience changed their lives permanently. One said he felt “violated” and now lives with daily reminders of what happened. Another described how his future had been “altered irreversibly” after trusting Hall.The judge said the victims had all suffered long-term harm, both physically and emotionally, and criticised Hall for showing no concern for their wellbeing. He described the offender as dangerous and said his actions had taken away the victims’ futures.HIV is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing medical treatment. The court noted that the victims will now have to manage the illness for the rest of their lives.Police in the region said more people have come forward since the conviction, and further investigations are ongoing. Authorities have urged anyone who may have been affected to contact them.Hall denied intentionally infecting the victims, but the court rejected his claims. He will now serve a life sentence, with a minimum of over two decades before he can be considered for release.
