The first gay man to knowingly infect his partner with HIV has been convicted of recklessly infecting another person with HIV.

The 47-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, knew he had the virus for seven months before he told his partner of two years.

Isleworth Crown Court was told that the man's partner found out through a mutual friend and when he confronted his boyfriend he denied having the virus.

The man became infected with HIV during their relationship and now faces a jail sentence after admitting to grievous bodily harm

The defendant changed his plea at the last minute after being presented with overwhelming scientific evidence.

Catherine Dodds from Sigma Research said that some media reports had suggested that the man had been convicted of ‘deliberately’ infecting his partner, however this was wrong.

“Similar convictions in this country have been undertaken under Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act which specifies recklessness,” she said.

“If the actions of this man had been proven to be deliberate, they would have been charged and convicted under the more serious Section 18 offence of this act that specifies intent.”

In the past three years six men and one woman have been convicted of recklessly infecting people.