A MAN who infected two young mothers with HIV, knowing he carried the virus has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Aaron Sutcliffe, 29, formerly of Kings Drive, Padiham, denied he had the virus when he had unprotected sex with the women - despite rumours he had the condition.

He later pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding at Preston Crown Court.

One of the women was diagnosed after having unprotected sex with Sutcliffe on just one occasion in 2016.

The other believed she and Sutcliffe received their diagnoses together in 2010 but was horrified to learn he had known of his condition for more than two years and continued to put her at risk.

Preston Crown Court heard Sutcliffe, 29, took “the cowards way out” for fear of being ostracised for the stigma of having HIV.

He lied to his second victim about having the condition, claiming his first victims allegations were “jealous vitriol”.

It was only once she had fallen ill with flu-like symptoms and confronted Sutcliffe he eventually confessed.

Judge Phillip Parry, sentencing, said: “Underscoring your callous nature you laughed at her, telling her not only did you have HIV but that she probably would have it now too.”

The woman told the court when she received her HIV diagnosis at the sexual health clinic she fell to the floor screaming.

She said: “I am disgusted. How could someone do such a thing?”

Following Sutcliffe’s first victim’s diagnosis in 2010, she told her partner and urged him to go for testing.

He continued with the charade and led her to believe he had only just learned he carried the virus.

But when the police began to investigate the second woman’s complaint, the woman was horrified to discover he had known he carried the virus since 2008 - and continued to put her at risk by having unprotected sex with her.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said: “His actions show his continuing disregard for the health of his partners.”

The court heard following Sutcliffe’s diagnosis in 2008 he was offered counselling, treatment and advised of his moral and legal responsibilities towards future partners.

But the court heard he disengaged from services and ‘buried his head in the sand.’

Both women have gone on to have children since they contracted HIV and have had to receive specialist treatment to prevent passing the virus on to their children.

One of the women said she was so scared of infected her baby she wore gloves when she was feeding and changing her newborn.

The second woman gave a harrowing account of how her life has been affected by her diagnosis.

“He could have told me to start with, when he made out his ex was spiteful.

“He could have told me when we had unprotected sex and I went for the morning after pill.

“He could have told me when I fell ill and no-one knew what was wrong. There were so many opportunities.

His actions were totally selfish and spiteful. There was no excuse.”

Julie Taylor, defending Sutcliffe, said he had experienced the same feelings as his victims when he learned of his own diagnosis in 2008 and had buried his head through fear and stigma.

She said there is an ongoing investigation into a complaint by Sutcliffe that he contracted HIV as a result of abuse.

Judge Phillip Parry, sentencing, said: “You wilfully and deliberately withheld your status from these two women.

“You buried your head in the sand for fear of being ostracised because of the stigma of this infection.

“You took the cowards way out, kept silent and infected them.

“You had no right to do so.

“You bear an overwhelming responsibility for your selfish actions which have left such devastation in your wake.”

The judge also made a sexual harm prevention order banning Sutcliffe from having any sexual relationship without first disclosing his HIV status.