/ 13 January 2004

Bigamist passed HIV recklessly

A bigamist from South Africa who admitted infecting a woman with HIV was jailed for six years yesterday for recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on his victim.

Kouassi Michel Adaye (40) who pleaded guilty on Friday, came to Britain five years ago, claiming asylum. He was described by a judge as a ”despicable” danger to women.

He had also started a relationship with a 48-year-old married woman from Merseyside — knowing he was probably HIV positive, Liverpool crown court heard. The woman cannot be identified. She contracted the virus after sleeping with Adaye.

Adaye also met a 57-year-old in August 2002 and married her bigamously in 2003, despite already having a wife. During this time, he also got engaged to a 17-year-old.

Judge David Lynch, who recommended that Adaye be deported after serving his sentence, said: ”This is recklessness of the highest possible degree.”

The court was told Adaye had unprotected sex knowing it was almost certain that he was HIV positive.

The prosecution said that his South African wife had informed him in April 2002 that she was HIV positive.

Adaye, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to bigamy and inflicting unlawful and malicious bodily harm on his victim. – Guardian Unlimited Â