A HAIRDRESSER has appeared in court accused of deliberately trying to infect a series of male lovers with HIV.

Daryll Rowe is facing allegations lodged by ten men, all of which he denies.

He pleaded not guilty to four charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and six charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

The victims cannot be named for legal reasons.

Rowe appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday wearing a shirt and trousers and spoke only to confirm his name.

The 26-year-old, from Edinburgh who is of no fixed address, was investigated by Sussex Police over claims he tampered with contraception while having sex with the men in Brighton between October 2015 and December last year.

Rowe was initially arrested in Brighton on February 5 last year on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent by means of tampering with condoms without the knowledge or consent of his partners.

Operation Brickhill was launched and the investigation was the subject of a city-wide public health warning.

Initially two alleged victims spoke to police officers and another came forward after press coverage of a police appeal for witnesses and a public health warning issued by both Brighton and Hove City Council’s director of public health and Sussex Police on February 23.

Officials including the then director of public health Tom Scanlon urged anyone who may have been sexually involved with a Scottish-accented man in his twenties between October 2015 and mid-February last year to seek health advice.

Medical experts say it is critical people diagnosed with HIV begin treatment immediately.

Patients in developed countries have a normal life expectancy when the virus is properly treated.

A three-year international drugs research trial found patients who begin treatment straight away have a 70 per cent lower risk of contracting Aids-related diseases than those who wait.

The treatment helps ensure HIV cannot damage the immune system and should mean the likelihood of transmitting the disease is extremely low.

Rowe was remanded in custody until the prosecution opens its case on Thursday.

The trial, expected to last six weeks, continues.

Background

A LARGE pool of potential jurors was vetted to try the case.

The court asked some 30 people to answer a series of questions before they could be selected for the panel. 

The jury had to be picked before the remaining individuals could be released to potential hear two other trials also due to open at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

The prosecution’s case against Rowe was due to be opened yesterday but has now been adjourned until Thursday afternoon.

Daryll Rowe denies all ten charges he faces.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.