Tue 12 May 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
1.30PM: Auckland police have just confirmed they have started investigating allegations that an HIV positive gay male 'predator' has been deliberately engaging in unsafe sex and has subsequently infected a number of other men. GayNZ.com several days ago became aware of up to seven men in their late teens and early twenties, with one as young as seventeen, who claim that they have been infected through unprotected sex with the same man who is understood to know that he has the debilitating and sometimes deadly virus. Although for legal reasons we cannot reveal the man's name, he is an attractive, personable and well presented pakeha in his early to mid-thirties with fair complexion and dark hair. He is an inner-city resident who may have shifted to Auckland from Wellington last year. Auckland police became aware of the case following GayNZ.com enquiries, including an attempt to speak with the man, who is being described as "a cold, calculated predator" by a close associate of one of the infected men. The man, who appears to have primarily used the internet to contact his prospective sex partners, shut down an NZ Dating profile which featured his photograph within hours of our journalist's approach late last week to discuss the matter. Yesterday he tentatively contacted us via email but that contact was brief and inconclusive. None of the infected men have felt able to discuss the matter with GayNZ.com except through intermediaries, and none have so far laid a formal complaint with the police. It is understood most of them have been in contact with HIV support organisations for up to six months. Police Diversity Liaison Officer Brent Clark says the allegations are being investigated by a team headed up by Detective Sergeant Andy King "who is aware and very concerned" by the claims. "He is making preliminary enquiries and I urge anyone who thinks they may have information about this man or had sexual contact with him to phone Andy on (09) 302 6611," says Clark.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 12th May 2009 - 1:20pm