A 61-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for knowingly infecting three prostitutes with HIV after engaging in unprotected sex with numerous women. John Nehemiah Rodney from Swindon tested positive for the virus in August 2013 but continued having unprotected sex with multiple women.
Detectives began investigating Rodney in 2017 following a complaint from a woman who tested positive for HIV after sexual contact with him. Initially denying the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm, Rodney later changed his plea to guilty.
During the hearing at Bristol Crown Court, it was disclosed that Rodney engaged in unprotected sex with multiple women over several years without informing them of his condition or seeking necessary treatment. More than 50 women were approached for questioning.
Medical professionals revealed that at least three women had contracted HIV after having unprotected sex with Rodney. The three victims had engaged in sexual activity with him in 2015 and 2016. Two of the victims had known Rodney since they were teenagers.
One of the victims, identified in court as P, shared the devastating impact of her diagnosis, expressing the stigma and health concerns she faced, including the side effects of the medication she was taking.
During his judgment, Judge William Hart described Rodney’s actions as “unforgivable.” He sentenced Rodney to eight years in prison, with an additional four-and-a-half years on an extended licence, to be served concurrently to his existing five-year jail term for breaching a sexual risk order.
Defending Rodney, Peter Binder cited his client’s poor mental and physical health but acknowledged that it did not excuse his behavior.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Jacobs stated that Rodney posed a high risk to the public, particularly vulnerable women in Swindon, and had caused irreparable harm to multiple women.