Swindon Man Jailed for 12-and-a-Half Years After Recklessly Infecting Three Women with HIV
A Swindon man has been handed a hefty jail term for recklessly infecting three women with HIV. John Nehemiah Rodney, 60, of Toothill, was sentenced today at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of recklessly transmitting the virus.
12-and-a-Half Years Behind Bars
Rodney received a total sentence of 12-and-a-half years. This includes eight years in prison and a four-and-a-half-year extended licence. He must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial sentence before being considered for release.
Ignoring Warnings and Orders
Wiltshire Police launched their investigation in 2017 after a woman came forward having contracted HIV following unprotected sex with Rodney. It soon emerged Rodney knew about his HIV status but continued to have unprotected sex with multiple women without telling them or taking medication.
Working with Swindon Borough Council, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Public Health England, officers approached over 50 women potentially exposed to Rodney. At least three were confirmed to have contracted HIV.
Breaching Sexual Risk Order and Previous Jail Time
On December 15, 2017, Swindon Magistrates Court imposed an Interim Sexual Risk Order on Rodney. The order banned him from having sex with women without informing the police. However, Rodney ignored these restrictions multiple times. He pleaded guilty to breaching the order and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. Rodney also served five years for an unrelated drug offence.
