A woman has spoken of her lifelong grief after a man from the Midlands deliberately infected her with HIV, leading to his conviction and imprisonment.
A Life Changed Forever
Luke Davis, a 31-year-old from Kidderminster in Worcestershire, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was found guilty of recklessly infecting another person with HIV and unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm. The conviction was secured last October at Hereford Justice Centre.
The court heard that Davis had unprotected sex with the victim without informing her he was HIV positive. He had also stopped taking his medication, which medical professionals had advised him was crucial. The woman only discovered her HIV status following a routine screening in 2021, after which she reported Davis to the police.
The Victim's 'Life Sentence'
During sentencing, the victim read a powerful impact statement to the court. She described how Davis's actions had left her "distraught", suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and recurring nightmares.
"Living with HIV has drastically affected my physical health and my everyday life," she told the court. She poignantly added, "I will always be grieving for the person I could have been."
In a statement released via police, she said Davis had left her with a "life sentence", forcing her to manage a lifelong disease through no fault of her own. She highlighted the profound impact on her mental health, citing significant trust issues, anxiety, and isolation caused by both the diagnosis and the associated stigma.
Selfish and Premeditated Actions
Sentencing Davis, His Honour Judge Jackson stated there was an element of "premeditation" in his crimes. The judge noted Davis chose not to disclose his HIV status to the complainant, despite clear medical advice to do so.
Judge Jackson said Davis had "disengaged completely" from his medication and "repeatedly failed" to attend clinic appointments, fully understanding the transmission risks. He characterised the defendant's behaviour as "utterly irresponsibly" and "selfish", adding that any remorse "came into existence very late in the day."
The court was told Davis knew his HIV-positive status when he had sex with the victim but did not disclose it, fearing "everyone in town" would find out. He claimed he would abstain from sex if he missed a tablet—an assertion dismissed by the judge.
Prosecution and Police Response
Giovanni D'Alessandro from the Crown Prosecution Service commented after the case: "This was a reckless and selfish individual who has caused irreparable damage by his actions." He explained that Davis had been on medication that reduced his viral load to an undetectable, non-transmissible level, but he chose to stop taking it and attending appointments.
Detective Superintendent Gerard Smith of West Mercia Police said this was the force's first case of its kind. He praised the victim's "remarkable courage" in coming forward and supporting a complex investigation. "Today's court result is hugely important for the victim, who will continue to receive medical treatment for the rest of their life, as a direct result of Davis' reckless behaviour," he stated.
The prosecution successfully proved to the jury that Davis's actions were criminal. Authorities hope the sentence brings the victim a measure of justice and deters others from similar dangerous conduct.
