Police investigated Gareth Thomas over former partner’s claims ex-rugby star gave him HIV
Gareth Thomas was investigated by police for allegedly infecting his former partner with HIV without disclosing he was positive with the virus.
The Welsh rugby star, who is a leading advocate for the HIV community, behaved “deceptively” and “failed to take reasonable care” to ensure he did not pass on the disease, according to papers lodged in the High Court.
Mr Thomas is being sued by Ian Baum, 59, who claims he only discovered the former Wales and Lions captain was HIV-positive when he found his antiviral medication.
Mr Baum, a private carer who started an on-off relationship with Mr Thomas in 2013, alleges he then took an HIV test, which came back positive, and confronted his partner, who was “very repentant and apologetic”.
He is suing the former player for a six-figure sum for serious physical and mental injury, including loss of life expectancy of six to eight years.
Police investigated concluded in 2018
It has also emerged that Mr Thomas was the subject of an investigation by Thames Valley Police following a complaint of grievous bodily harm (GBH) between December 2013 and June 2014.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “This relates to an alleged offence reported to have taken place at a property in Datchet between December 2013 and June 2014.
“The investigation was concluded in 2018 following reasonable lines of enquiry.
“There was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and as such the investigation was concluded.”
GBH is the offence under which others who have previously been accused of passing on HIV while not disclosing their status have been prosecuted.
Mr Thomas has approximately a month to file his defence to the claim for damages and is expected to vigorously contest the allegations.
One of Welsh rugby’s most-capped players, he came out as gay in 2009 following the end of his professional career.
He announced he had HIV in 2019 and is now a patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust and also sits on the HIV Commission, which aims to end new cases in England by 2030.
The High Court claim states that had Mr Thomas’s alleged behaviour been made public, it “would have been extremely damaging to the defendant’s public reputation as a person who has spoken out about his homosexuality and LGBT issues”.
“Since that time the defendant has portrayed himself as a spokesperson for HIV without ever disclosing that he deceptively transmitted HIV to the claimant in 2014,” it continued.
Mr Baum also accuses Mr Thomas of coercive and controlling behaviour in order to try to keep his HIV status a secret and prevent it becoming public that he had deceived his former partner.
Mr Baum reportedly claimed that police sent Mr Thomas a letter “warning him about his conduct”.
However, Mr Thomas’s lawyers are reportedly preparing to submit a January 2016 handwritten note from Mr Baum, saying, “I lied, I already had HIV. Give this to your solicitor”, which Mr Baum claims he did not recall writing.
The former player was scheduled to take part in Monday’s Sport Relief All Star Games on the BBC.
However, on Sunday night it was not confirmed whether the line-up would be changed.
Mr Thomas has been approached for comment.
