FIRST PICTURE OF 'RECKLESS' MAN JAILED AFTER INFECTING VICTIM WITH HIV
This is the first picture of a 'reckless' man jailed after infecting a victim with HIV.Luke Davis, 31, from Kidderminster, was put on trial after the victim contracted the virus as a result of his failure to disclose the sexually transmitted disease and maintain his treatment.
Davis tested positive for HIV in August 2017 and began treatment in January 2018.
Medical professionals advised him about the importance of taking his medication daily to keep the virus suppressed and prevent transmission.
But when Davis met the victim, he did not disclose his HIV status to them, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Scientific evidence later confirmed they had been infected with the same strain of HIV as Davis.
The victim told the trial Davis was their only sexual partner during the period in which they contracted the disease.
Davis last attended his clinic appointment on September 18, 2018 and stopped receiving medication deliveries after September 2019.
Police found a bottle from September 2019 that still contained pills.
In 2021, he admitted to his social worker that he had stopped taking his medication.
Davis was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the victim following the trial on October 27, last year.
He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison at Hereford Crown Court today, Monday, January 12.
His victim previously spoke of the"life sentence" he was serving every day because of the reckless behaviour.
“Luke has never had to face the consequences of his actions, nor has he ever taken responsibility for what he has done,” he said.
Speaking after the case, Giovanni D’Alessandro, from the CPS, said: “This was a reckless and selfish individual who has caused irreparable damage by his actions.
Davis had been on the appropriate medication and knew he had to take it every day and have regular check-ups.
His medication reduced the viral load to such a low level that it was controlled and could not be passed on.
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 of contracting the disease which they subsequently did.
The prosecution was able to prove to a jury that Davis’ actions were criminal.
The victim now faces the life-long impact of living with HIV.
“We hope the sentence imposed provides some measure of justice to the victim and dissuades others from this type of dangerous and reckless behaviour.”
