A man who raped and deliberately infected young, vulnerable men with HIV has been jailed for life and must serve at least 23 years. Adam Hall, 43, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, is only the second person in the UK to be found guilty of intentionally spreading the virus. After a four-month trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Hall was convicted of deliberately infecting seven males, four of whom he raped. One victim was 15; the others were in their late teens and early 20s. Police believe there are more victims across England.
In victim personal statements read at Hall’s sentencing, the youngest said he learned he was HIV positive as he got off the school bus, changing his life instantly. Another said Hall left him “the shell of who I was”. Hall, described by police as “arrogant and dismissive”, targeted younger, sexually inexperienced men he met in bars or on the dating app Grindr. He refused to leave his cell for sentencing, which the judge said was “entirely in keeping with the indifference you’ve shown to the suffering of others”.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith of Northumbria Police said Hall showed no remorse and came across as a “callous, calculating sexual predator”. Diagnosed with HIV in 2010, Hall took medication to suppress his viral load but had unprotected sex with men between 2016 and 2023, raping some, without disclosing his status. Victims only discovered they were infected after being tested themselves.
One victim described himself as “vulnerable” and “easily manipulated”, saying he had expected Hall to take care of him. After diagnosis, some close friends stopped visiting him, fearing germs. Another victim, who said Hall was his first gay experience, added: “Hall came into my life, and I have been left a shell of who I was.” A third victim, raped while asleep, said: “Because of HIV my family live in fear of me.”
Detectives are urging others who may have had contact with Hall to come forward, as he travelled to County Durham, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester and London to meet men. Alice Wiseman, director of public health for Newcastle and Gateshead, said health services are ready to offer support, adding: “There is no judgment and your health and safety is our priority.”
