A COURT in Wolverhampton, England, has delayed the sentencing of a Zimbabwean man who admitted infecting a woman with HIV during unprotected sex after a second "vitim" came forward.
Nkosinathi Mabanda, 43, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm to the first victim -- a woman from Walsall -- at the Wolverhampton Crown Court.
But before sentencing on Thursday, the court heard he was being investigated by police about a possible similar offence involving a second woman while he was on bail.
The other woman came forward after reading in a newspaper and seeing a photograph of Mabanda. She told police she had also been involved in a sexual relationship with him.
Ian Ball, prosecuting, said after Mabanda indicated he was considering making a return to his native Zimbabwe, the woman went to a Walsall hospital for tests.
Those tests proved to be negative but there is a three-month incubation period for the disease and it would not be until May or June that the results of a second test would be known, said Ball.
“This woman was horrified when she saw the article because she had no idea that Mabanda was HIV positive,” Ball told the court.
He said Mabanda had taken a list to police officers after his initial arrest which revealed he had sexual relations with a total of nine women in the United Kingdom.
Seven of them, including the first woman, had not known he was HIV positive, said Ball, but no further charges had been brought as it was impossible to trace them.
Judge John Wait told Mabanda, “Information has come to light that needs to be investigated before I can decide the appropriate sentence in your case.
“This information indicates you have, if it is true, put another woman at risk during the period you have been on bail.”
He said because Mabanda had intimated he might return to Zimbabwe he would remand him in custody until July 25. But he warned Mabanda that a “significant custodial sentence is inevitable in any event.”
Wendy Miller, defending, said Mabanda had given her clear instructions he had not had sexual relations with another woman throughout his bail.
She said he maintained the story told by the second woman was a fabrication but agreed it would be three months before an answer would be available and whether it would result in a further charge.