A FITNESS instructor was jailed for five years today for giving HIV to two young women he had sex with.
Simon James, 46, of Bristol, denied recklessly passing on the deadly virus but was found guilty by a jury following a trial lasting five days.
James got the killer bug in 1995 but infected the two women over a six year period from 2008 onwards.
He first lied to them saying he did not have the disease before telling themm his medication made it impossible to pass it on.
Cops today revealed he refused to disclose details of former girlfriends and they fear there could be more victims out there who are unaware they have the disease.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Ben Sullivan, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Simon James had been aware of his HIV status and yet failed to use his antiretroviral medication or use contraception.
“He was advised of the dangers of unsafe sex and the importance of taking his medication by healthcare professionals on countless occasions while he also missed up to 49 appointments for viral load monitoring between 1999 and 2014.
"As a result, his victims have suffered greatly and I can only praise them for their bravery.
“This has been an extremely complex and rare investigation and I am pleased the jury were able to see through his lies and that he has been punished accordingly.”
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Bristol Crown Court heard evidence from healthcare experts during his trial last month.
He was found guilty of reckless transmission of HIV after a jury found he had lied to the two women.
It is only the third time in British legal history someone has been convicted of the rare offence – the last being in 2004.
James was diagnosed with HIV in the mid-1990s but failed to use contraception, attend hospital appointments or take antiretroviral medication.
One of his victims has decided not to have children because of her disease.
Stephen Dent, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “The HIV virus is highly complex and prosecutions based upon its transmission are similarly complicated.
“We are therefore pleased that with the help of some of the country’s foremost virology experts Simon James' dangerous behaviour has been exposed and he has been punished for the lifelong injury he has caused his victims.
“His selfish and irresponsible approach has had tragic consequences for both his victims."
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