MAN GUILTY OF RAPE AND DELIBERATE HIV INFECTIONS
Update 23/04/2026: Adam Hall, 43, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 23 years, at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday, where he was convicted in March of raping four men and intentionally passing on the virus to three more.Hall hid his HIV status from partners, failed to take medication to keep his viral load low, then had unprotected sex with men, sometimes raping them.
He was convicted of five counts of rape and seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm - by deliberately infecting younger partners with HIV after meeting them in bars in the Newcastle area or on the Grindr dating app.
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A man described as a 'callous sexual predator' has been convicted of multiple serious offenses, including rape and deliberately transmitting HIV to seven men, one of whom was only 15 years old at the time.
Adam Hall, aged 43, targeted young men he met through online platforms or in bars around Newcastle, engaging in unprotected sex without disclosing his HIV-positive status, the crown court in Newcastle heard.
Hall faced charges of raping four individuals and intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to them and three other victims.
Authorities suspect there may be additional victims across northern England and London.
Residing in Washington near Sunderland, Hall had not been consistent with his HIV treatment, which kept the virus at non-infectious levels.
He was remanded into custody and is scheduled for sentencing in April.
Medical records indicated Hall was diagnosed with HIV in August 2010 and was prescribed medication.
However, by 2016, medical professionals realised that he had not been adhering to his treatment regimen, rendering him capable of infecting others through sexual contact.
Prosecutors argued that between 2015 and 2023, Hall intentionally concealed his diagnosis from his partners, engaging in unprotected sex without medication to deliberately ruin their lives.
One of the victims, along with others in their late teens and early 20s, was only informed of their HIV status after testing positive themselves.
Hall claimed that his sexual orientation had been 'weaponised' against him and dismissed HIV as not causing serious harm.
The trial, which lasted 97 days starting in November, involved jurors deliberating over nine days and using a total of 42 hours and 51 minutes to reach verdicts on 15 charges, some unanimous and others by majority.
Prosecutor Kama Melly KC highlighted that Hall actively sought out vulnerable young men, fully aware of his actions.
Outside the court, Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith from Northumbria Police described Hall as a 'callous calculating sexual predator' who showed no remorse for the suffering caused.
Authorities believe additional victims have yet to come forward, noting Hall’s travel across various regions including County Durham, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester, and London.
Officers advise individuals with health concerns to seek guidance from sexual health services.
Amy Dixon of the CPS emphasised Hall’s awareness of the risks involved and his deliberate intent to inflict lasting harm.
The sentencing, scheduled for April 23, will also consider drug dealing charges, with Judge Edward Bindloss indicating that Hall faces a lengthy prison term.
The judge commended the jury for their careful handling of a complicated and distressing case, noting they would be excused from future jury service due to their service in this challenging trial.
