An HIV-positive male prostitute has admitted to continuing to work despite having the deadly virus. Hector Scott (Photo: TVNZ) Hector Scott, 41, from Canberra, pleaded guilty in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court on Thursday to providing a commercial sexual service while knowing he was infected with a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) and failing to register as a sex worker. An alert was issued in New Zealand after Scott flew here at Christmas, but New Zealand health authorities said this week no-one had reported any contact with him there. Scott has been HIV-positive for about eight years, but it is unclear how long he has known about his illness or how long he has been working in the sex industry. It is understood he advertised himself as a prostitute in Canberra media throughout 2007 using the names "Adam" and "Josh", reports the AAP. Under ACT law it is illegal to provide or receive commercial sexual services if the person knows, or could reasonably be expected to know, that he or she is infected with a sexually-transmitted infection. It is also illegal to work as a prostitute in the ACT without being part of a brothel or escort agency which is registered with the Office of Regulatory Services. Health officials are now sifting through a list of about 250 people who Scott has been in contact with in recent weeks and trying to determine how many people he may have infected. Magistrate Grant Lalor extended Scott's strict bail conditions until his next court appearance on 20 March when he is expected to be sentenced.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 9th February 2008 - 1:42am