Jamaican man accused of infecting woman with HIV jailed

A Jamaican man accused of infecting a woman with HIV was sentenced to three years in jail by a British court after he admitted to the offense. According to the Independent, Jermaine Scott, 39, was convicted on March 4 after he pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

The Jamaican native was prescribed HIV medication in 2005 after he was diagnosed with the virus. Though the tablets would have suppressed the possibility of transmission to others, Scott was not taking the medication consistently.

The victim and Scott were initially in a relationship and later got back together in 2009 after a breakup. But the convicted man proceeded to have unprotected sex with the victim without letting her know his HIV status.

The pair ultimately visited a sexual health clinic later that year after the woman felt something wasn’t right. When requested, Scott gave a false name and medical details to the clinic. The pair later went their separate ways after the victim was diagnosed with HIV. 

The Cheshire Constabulary initiated an investigation into the case in 2009 after they were notified about the incident. Though Scott was ultimately arrested in 2011, authorities closed the case because of a lack of sufficient evidence after he refused to answer questions. 

However, Scott was deported later that same year after authorities determined he was illegally staying in the UK. After the victim requested for the case to be reopened, detectives were able to medically establish the victim possibly contracted HIV while she was romantically involved with Scott. 

Scott was charged with the offense after he was extradited to the UK in 2022. “It has taken more than 12 years to reach this point, and having supported the victim throughout the investigation I have seen first-hand the pain and suffering that she has endured, both physically and psychologically,” Detective Sergeant Emma Myers said after his conviction.

“She will now live the rest of her life forever marred by the actions of Scott. There is no cure and she will now have to take medication for the rest of her life. Scott’s actions have also affected her relationships with others and she no longer trusts men,” Myers added. 

“While no sentence will ever be enough, I do hope that the fact that Scott is now behind bars and has been held accountable will provide her with some closure.”