HIV infection accused named

Glenn Mills in the dock at Auckland District Court this morning. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The identity of a HIV-positive man accused of intentionally infecting men and women with the virus can be revealed.

Name suppression for Glenn Richard Albert Mills has been lifted in the Auckland District Court after media and the police opposed suppression continuing.

The 40-year-old Auckland man had been charged with infecting three men - aged 17, 24 and 26 -with the virus and attempting to infect a fourth, aged 31.

More charges were laid on Tuesday when two new complainants came forward, then again on Thursday when another HIV-positive man laid a complaint. The total number of alleged victims stands at seven: six men and one woman.

Police expect that number to rise now that Mills' identity is public.

Police say that Mills was diagnosed as HIV positive in May 2007 and had led an "active sexual life" in Auckland and Wellington.

He allegedly searched for sex partners through internet and telephone dating services, posing as a 32-year-old.

The maximum penalty for attempting to infect someone with HIV was seven years in prison and 14 years for infecting with HIV.

The court heard that Mills also has hepatitis B and chlamydia.

Bruce Kilmister, chief executive at Body Positive, New Zealand's HIV positive support organisation, said the alleged charges significantly changed a lot of people's lives.

"Everybody who has had an association with him in the past should come forward for a test.

"But it's also a timely reminder that everybody has a responsibility to keep themselves safe and follow safe sex practice."

"HIV positive people have an added responsibility not to transmit the virus, and the best way they can do that is to have safe sex."

The fact a woman had allegedly been affected raised concern the virus may have spread into the heterosexual community,

"The reality is that most women think of the pill as the beginning and end of safe sex. It needs to be a message that goes right across the broad spectrum."

HIV activist and researcher Michael Stevens was pleased that name suppression was lifted today.

"It will enable people who have been in contact with him to find out if they are HIV positive or not, and they need to get tested."

Anyone who wanted to get tested should call 0800 HIV LINE.

- With NZPA