Christchurch police are contacting men who may have had sexual encounters with a man who has been arrested for allegedly having unprotected sex with another man without disclosing his HIV-positive status. Johnny Lumsden Johnny Lumsden, 26, originally from Northland, has been charged with criminal nuisance by having unprotected sexual intercourse knowing that the omission would endanger the health of others. He is suspected of having had unprotected sex with at least two further men in their 20s who he met through the Grindr app. Two of the men have been cleared of being infected by Lumsden, the third is awaiting HIV test results. If he does have HIV and it can be confirmed as coming from Lumsden a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm would likely result. Using information supplied by Lumsden police contacted men who he had had sex with. Some had had protected sex, others did not want to be part of the police investigation. Using a condom during penetrative sex is legally considered to be a sufficient step to prevent HIV transmission, thus doing away with the need to tell a partner of the presence of HIV infection. Any person who has had unprotected sex with Lumsden, who has traveled around the country and lived in Australia in recent years, is urged to contact the police. Advice and support are available through Body Positive, 0800 448 5463 and HIV tests are available through the offices of the NZ AIDS Foundation, sexual health clinics or GPs. Several other cases relating to an HIV-positive gay or bi man having unprotected sex have been before the courts in recent times. Glenn Mills was facing multiple charges when he took his own life in Mt Eden remand prison in 2009. Charges against a Herne Bay, Auckland, man were dropped earlier this year apparently on the basis of medical evidence. Another case, also in Auckland, is currently making its way through the court process.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 30th November 2016 - 3:17pm