A man from Worcestershire has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for recklessly infecting another person with HIV.
Reckless actions and a secret diagnosis
Luke Davis, aged 31 and from Kidderminster, was convicted by a jury last October of inflicting grievous bodily harm. His sentencing took place at Hereford Crown Court on Monday, January 12, where he received a prison term of four years and six months.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) outlined that Davis first tested positive for HIV in August 2017 and began treatment in January 2018. Medical professionals had stressed to him the critical importance of taking his daily medication to suppress the virus and prevent its transmission to others.
A deliberate cessation of treatment
Despite this advice, Davis deliberately stopped his treatment. He last attended a clinic appointment on September 18, 2018, and ceased receiving medication deliveries after September 2019. Police later discovered a bottle of pills from that period which remained unused.
When he met the victim, Davis chose not to reveal his HIV-positive status. Scientific evidence presented during the trial confirmed that the victim had contracted 'exactly the same strain of HIV as Davis'. The victim told jurors they had only been sexually active with Davis during the time they contracted the virus.
Irreparable damage and a life-long impact
Senior Crown Prosecutor Giovanni D’Alessandro condemned Davis's actions as reckless and selfish. "His medication reduced the viral load to such a low level that it was controlled and could not be passed on," D’Alessandro stated. "It was his choice to stop taking it and to stop attending clinic appointments. He further failed to inform the victim of his diagnosis and recklessly put them at risk."
The prosecution successfully argued that by stopping his treatment and withholding his diagnosis, Davis had committed a criminal act. The court heard that his actions had caused irreparable damage, leaving the victim to face the life-long consequences of living with HIV.
In sentencing, the judge emphasised the severity of Davis's breach of trust and the profound harm caused. The CPS expressed hope that the sentence would provide some measure of justice for the victim and act as a deterrent against such dangerous behaviour.
