Infection accused says man wanted HIV sex

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A man accused of deliberately infecting seven men with HIV has told jurors one of the complainants desired to have sex with someone with the disease.

Prosecutors claim Adam Hall had sex with younger men he met online or at bars in Newcastle, but did not tell them he was HIV positive, did not use protection and did not take the drugs he should have to make him non-infectious.

Hall, 43 and from Washington, denies raping five men and seven counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

When asked about one of the complainants, Hall told Newcastle Crown Court he "constantly" spoke about his HIV status with him and the man wanted to have sex.

The court has heard Hall was diagnosed with HIV in August 2010 and he told jurors he took medication to keep it at undetectable, or non-infectious, levels.

He previously told the court he had no intention to cause harm or deliberately pass on the disease and said he told sexual partners about his condition.

On the fourth day of giving evidence, Hall was asked about the sixth complainant whom he denies inflicting grievous bodily harm upon with intent.

He said the man messaged him on dating app Grindr and the pair agreed to meet for sex, which happened up to 10 times over a five-month period.

Hall said the man made it clear "from the off" he knew Hall was HIV positive, adding: "He had been told I was positive by various different people on the scene."

Hall said the pair "constantly" talked about Hall's status, and the man messaged saying: "I want your positive load."

They initially used a condom but stopped at the man's request, Hall said, and he told jurors he was "undetectable so there was no reason for me not to do as he asked".

Hall said all sexual activity between the pair was consensual.

The jurors were also read messages exchanged between Hall and another man which talked about sexual fantasies involving HIV.

The man wrote he got "turned on knowing it's pos tehe", to which Hall replied "you are meant to hehe", the court heard.

His barrister Craig Hassall KC said: "Can we see from this, then, that at times you have been in contact with people on Grindr who express to you they are turned on, sexually excited, by the idea at least of being with a person who is HIV positive?"

Hall replied: "Yes."

He was also asked about his response when people asked if he was "clean", which he said was a question about sexually transmitted infections.

"I come out with a sarky comment like 'I've just come out of the shower'," Hall replied.

Hassall asked Hall if he deliberately transmitted HIV to the man or meant to cause him really serious harm.

"Absolutely not," Hall replied.

Hall gave the same response when asked about the seventh complainant, who he again denied intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm upon.

The court heard the pair had one sexual encounter, a 45-minute long threesome with another man who was also HIV positive.

"Were you during that encounter intending to infect [the man] with HIV?" Mr Hassall asked.

"No, I was undetectable," Hall said, adding the complainant was on "prep", a medication to prevent getting HIV.

Hall denies raping one man, who did not get HIV, and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm on seven others, four of whom he also denies raping.

In relation to the eighth complainant, who Hall is accused of intentionally injuring, he said the man knew he had HIV and there was "no issue", with the pair using a condom.

When asked if he was trying to deliberately infect or harm the man, Hall replied: "Definitely not."

In cross-examination, prosecutor Kama Melly KC asked for the details of when and how Hall told each of the complainants he was HIV positive.

Hall said he told each one he was taking tablets and undetectable.

He claimed one of the men seemed "quite shocked", another did not understand so the pair looked it up online to read about the risks, a third said he already knew as it was "common knowledge" and a fourth said "it didn't matter" to him.

Several of the men chose to not use condoms in their intercourse, Hall added.

Ms Melly said the men gave "very different accounts" to that of Hall and alleged he did not tell them his status, to which Hall replied "OK" and there "absolutely was" conversations.

"Are you saying all these young men are lying about you?" Ms Melly asked.

Hall said they must be but he could "not speculate" why.

The trial, which began in November, continues.

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