Man Jailed for Recklessly Transmitting HIV to Woman

A Jamaican man has been jailed for recklessly transmitting HIV to a woman. Jermaine Scott, 39, was sentenced to three years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, April 4th, after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm (section 20 assault).

Scott was diagnosed with HIV in 2005 and had been prescribed medication that, if taken regularly, would have eliminated the risk of transmission. He and the victim had been in a relationship previously and rekindled their romance in the summer of 2009. However, Scott was not consistently taking his medication during this time, increasing the risk of transmission.

Furthermore, Scott failed to inform the victim of his HIV status and engaged in unprotected sex with her. The victim became suspicious of his behavior and in October 2009, the couple visited a sexual health clinic. At the clinic, Scott provided a false name and medical information to the healthcare worker.

The victim subsequently tested positive for HIV, leading to the end of their relationship. Following the breakup, Scott left the Cheshire area. The incident was reported to Cheshire Constabulary in October 2009, prompting an investigation to locate Scott.

After a public appeal, Scott was found and arrested in February 2011. He refused to answer questions from officers, and despite a thorough investigation, insufficient evidence was gathered to charge him. The case was closed, and Scott was deported from the UK in November 2011 after being found to be in the country illegally.

Shortly after his deportation, the victim requested that the case be reopened. Detectives sought the assistance of medical experts, who determined that it was highly likely the victim contracted HIV within three months of her diagnosis, while she was in a relationship with Scott. They also identified genetic links between the strain of HIV diagnosed in the victim and the offender.

This additional evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2019. The CPS agreed to charge Scott with grievous bodily harm in February 2020. An extradition warrant was issued, and Scott was returned to the UK in November 2022 to face charges in connection with the incident.