Adam Hall, a 43-year-old sexual predator, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for deliberately infecting vulnerable men with HIV and raping some of them. The court found him guilty of five counts of rape and seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent through the intentional transmission of the HIV virus. Police have urged anyone who may have had sexual contact with Hall to come forward.
Details of the Offences
Hall was also convicted of supplying a controlled drug (GHB) and failing to comply with a police investigation by refusing to provide his phone's password. The offences involved seven victim-survivors between 2016 and 2023. He is only the second person in the UK to be convicted of intentional HIV transmission.
Hall was diagnosed with HIV in 2010 and was prescribed medication to suppress his viral load. However, by 2016, medical professionals noted he was not adhering to treatment, making him infectious. Despite warnings, he engaged in unprotected sex with men, in some cases raping them.
Judge's Remarks
Judge Edward Bindloss described Hall as "dangerous," stating: "You targeted young men and deliberately infected them with HIV. You knew you had been HIV positive since 2010 and you deliberately chose not to take anti-viral drugs. You were interested in your pleasure only. You acted selfishly and you were using them for your sexual purposes." He added: "They have all had their futures taken away, all deliberately because of you."
Victim Impact Statements
One victim said: "When I was first diagnosed with HIV I felt like I had been given a death sentence. He left me a broken man, a shell of who I was. What an utter betrayal of another human being." Another stated: "He gained my trust and hurt me in the most malicious way. He knew he was infected. He didn’t give me the option of accessing pre or post HIV exposure treatment."
A young victim, who was 15 at the time, recalled receiving a phone call about his HIV status while on his way home from school: "It was as though my world had just stopped. I was in a total state of disbelief and confusion."
Hall's Travel and Blame
Hall travelled from his home in Washington, Tyne and Wear, to meet men in London, Manchester, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, County Durham, and Middlesbrough. His youngest victim was just 15 years old. The Crown Prosecution Service noted that Hall failed to disclose his HIV status, and victims only discovered their infection after testing. He was convicted of raping four men and deliberately infecting three more.
During police interviews and court testimony, Hall showed no remorse, blaming his victims and claiming some wanted to be infected—a claim the court dismissed.
Police Investigation
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith, who led the investigation, praised the victims' courage. She stated: "All of the men were young, aged from 15 to their late 20s. Hall consistently failed to comply with his treatment regimen. He did not tell them of his status and had unprotected sex with them, raping some." She added: "He had a history of targeting young vulnerable men, particularly those inexperienced sexually. A power imbalance was part of the dynamic. We believe he deliberately set out to infect others with HIV."
Northumbria Police believe there are more unidentified victims. Hall met people through dating apps, making identification difficult. Smith urged anyone who may have been a victim to contact police via their website and seek advice from local sexual health services.
