Rapist targeted young vulnerable men including 15-year-old boy to deliberately transmit HIV

Detective chief inspector Emma Smith who led the investigation into the conviction of Adam Hall for deliberately infecting men with HIV said he targeted “vulnerable young men, including a 15-year-old boy”.

Hall, 43, previously of the Donwell area of Washington, was on March 5 (2026) found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of multiple charges related to the deliberate infection of seven men with HIV, four of whom he was found guilty of raping.

Hall today (April 23) returned to Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 23 years and 42 days.

DCI Smith said: “Hall was well known on the Gay scene in Newcastle, but our investigation showed he targeted vulnerable young men who he contacted on dating apps like Grindr.

“He was prolific online in trying to arrange hook-ups. All the victims were vulnerable young men, including one victim who was 15-year-old school boy. They were generally sexually inexperienced and new on the Gay scene.

DCI Smith was speaking to the Echo alongside Senior Crown Prosecutor Amy Dixon who added: “The men were generally much younger than Hall and there was a clear power imbalance. He was very forceful with his victims which on a number of occasions resulted in rape.”

During his trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard Hall was diagnosed with HIV in 2010 and, following this, healthcare professionals had repeatedly advised him about the importance of taking his medication, both for his own welfare and to prevent the transmission of the disease to sexual partners.

Over 95% of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK are on effective anti-retroviral medication, which reduces the amount of the virus in the blood to undetectable levels.

Despite knowing this, Hall went on to have unprotected sex with his victims between the period 2017 to 2023.

Ms Dixon said: “Hall has shown no remorse for his actions nor has he apologised to any of his victims. He was very dismissive and never informed them of his HIV status, even after sex when there is medication they could have accessed early to prevent infection.

“It was clear he deliberately intended to pass on HIV to his victims and even suggested his victims wanted him to pass on the virus.”