Richard Thomas, 27, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison for raping a sleeping woman in her home. Thomas, who had been drinking heavily and using drugs, claimed he couldn’t recall the attack but accepted the victim’s account. The woman, who had taken a sleeping tablet, woke to find Thomas assaulting her. Prosecutors revealed he entered her home uninvited,
Thomas learned he might have contracted HIV from the victim, who he knew was unwell but didn’t realize could have HIV. The news reportedly caused him to collapse. Judge Mark Brown ordered Thomas to be listed permanently on the Sex Offenders Register. Thomas, with a history of substance abuse, expressed remorse for his actions.