HIV accused 'nicest person' with 'little evil bit'

Adam Hall is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court

This article contains sexual details some people may find distressing

A man accused of deliberately infecting seven young men with HIV could be the "nicest person going" but also had a "little evil bit", his former friend has told jurors.

Adam Hall, 43, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2010, met men in Newcastle bars or on dating apps and had unprotected sex with them after telling them he had no sexually transmitted diseases, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.

His former housemate John O'Brien said he challenged Mr Hall about his "bang out of order" behaviour but Mr Hall said "everything was alright".

Mr Hall, from Donwell in Washington, denies raping five men and seven counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mr O'Brien said he lived with Mr Hall for about a year in around 2015 before moving out due to his concerns about the defendant's behaviour.

He told jurors Mr Hall had been given condoms by a sexual health clinic but enjoyed "bareback sex", which was unprotected.

'Got to be careful'

Mr O'Brien recalled one occasion when a sexual partner of Mr Hall's, who is not one of the complainants, was upset as the pair had had sex while the man was bleeding.

The witness said he asked the man if the pair had used protection, to which the man replied no.

Mr O'Brien said he asked if the man knew about Mr Hall's HIV status, to which again the man said no.

"At this point I explained to him Adam was HIV positive and 'you've got to be careful'," Mr O'Brien told jurors.

He said the man, who was a "lovely guy", looked "very upset" and "got very emotional", so he took him to a sexual health clinic to get tested.

Mr O'Brien said he later confronted Mr Hall and told him it was "bang out of order" and he should not have been having sex with someone while they were bleeding.

He said Mr Hall looked at him like a "naughty schoolboy" and said "no no, everything is alright".

Mr O'Brien said he told Mr Hall everything was not alright and soon after moved out of the defendant's home.

He said Mr Hall told him his HIV level was "undetectable" at the time, which the court has heard meant he was non-infectious.

Mr O'Brien said: "Whether your undetectable or not, you take away someone's choice and decision by not disclosing that [HIV status]."

He said he tried to avoid speaking to Mr Hall after that, adding: "[Mr Hall] can be the nicest person going, he can do anything for you if he could, but it was just that little evil bit that would pop out and just upset you."

The trial continues.