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| Gareth Thomas: No HIV legal action regrets - rugby star's ex | Gareth Thomas: No HIV legal action regrets - rugby star's ex |
| (8 days later) | |
| Ian Baum claimed Gareth Thomas "deceptively" transmitted HIV to him | Ian Baum claimed Gareth Thomas "deceptively" transmitted HIV to him |
| Gareth Thomas' ex-partner has said he does not regret taking legal action against the former rugby star. | Gareth Thomas' ex-partner has said he does not regret taking legal action against the former rugby star. |
| Ian Baum accused Mr Thomas, 48, of "deceptively" transmitting HIV to him during their three-year relationship. | Ian Baum accused Mr Thomas, 48, of "deceptively" transmitting HIV to him during their three-year relationship. |
| The former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain settled the case for £75,000 plus costs without admitting liability or guilt. | The former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain settled the case for £75,000 plus costs without admitting liability or guilt. |
| Mr Baum told BBC Wales: "I didn't want to go through life with regrets and I wanted closure." | Mr Baum told BBC Wales: "I didn't want to go through life with regrets and I wanted closure." |
| Despite settling the case, Mr Thomas maintained the allegations were "meritless." | Despite settling the case, Mr Thomas maintained the allegations were "meritless." |
| In court papers filed last year, Mr Baum said he was HIV negative when the relationship began in 2013. | In court papers filed last year, Mr Baum said he was HIV negative when the relationship began in 2013. |
| He alleged Mr Thomas hid his HIV status and only discovered the diagnosis when he found antiviral HIV medication. | He alleged Mr Thomas hid his HIV status and only discovered the diagnosis when he found antiviral HIV medication. |
| "I went straight to a clinic and had a super duper quick blood test and within 10/15 minutes, it came back that I was positive," Mr Baum said. | "I went straight to a clinic and had a super duper quick blood test and within 10/15 minutes, it came back that I was positive," Mr Baum said. |
| "I was devastated. I hadn't even, at 52, Googled HIV or knew what it all meant. All these thoughts were going through your head. I was completely floored." | "I was devastated. I hadn't even, at 52, Googled HIV or knew what it all meant. All these thoughts were going through your head. I was completely floored." |
| In a series of tweets, former international Thomas maintained his innocence. | In a series of tweets, former international Thomas maintained his innocence. |
| He told his 298,000 followers: "In personal injury cases like these the accuser has no financial risks even if they lose, but for me winning had huge financial implications. | He told his 298,000 followers: "In personal injury cases like these the accuser has no financial risks even if they lose, but for me winning had huge financial implications. |
| You can't catch HIV from hugging me - Alfie | You can't catch HIV from hugging me - Alfie |
| 'I didn't know the reality of living with HIV' | 'I didn't know the reality of living with HIV' |
| Football 'in dark ages' over homophobia | Football 'in dark ages' over homophobia |
| "Paying £75,000 plus costs now is nothing compared to the many multiples of that sum I'd have to pay to successfully defend myself in court. | "Paying £75,000 plus costs now is nothing compared to the many multiples of that sum I'd have to pay to successfully defend myself in court. |
| "For my own mental health and that of my family, the closure and acceptance from the other side is a hugely positive outcome." | "For my own mental health and that of my family, the closure and acceptance from the other side is a hugely positive outcome." |
| Mr Baum said he had no regrets pursuing legal action: "I used to hear my parents say 'I wish we'd done this' or 'I wish we'd done that'. | Mr Baum said he had no regrets pursuing legal action: "I used to hear my parents say 'I wish we'd done this' or 'I wish we'd done that'. |
| "I didn't want to go through life with any regrets. If if I didn't push this as far as I could push it, it would have been one of the biggest regrets of my life [and] I wouldn't have got my closure." | "I didn't want to go through life with any regrets. If if I didn't push this as far as I could push it, it would have been one of the biggest regrets of my life [and] I wouldn't have got my closure." |
| Gareth Thomas was his country's leading try-scorer in international rugby | Gareth Thomas was his country's leading try-scorer in international rugby |
| Thomas was one of Wales' biggest sports stars during a 16-year rugby career that included spells at Bridgend, Cardiff and Toulouse. | Thomas was one of Wales' biggest sports stars during a 16-year rugby career that included spells at Bridgend, Cardiff and Toulouse. |
| He played 100 times for his country, including captaining Wales to the 2005 Grand Slam. He was also Wales' record try-scorer until he was surpassed by Shane Williams in 2008. | He played 100 times for his country, including captaining Wales to the 2005 Grand Slam. He was also Wales' record try-scorer until he was surpassed by Shane Williams in 2008. |
| Mr Baum said he knew very little about the sportsman, widely known as Alfie, when they first met. | Mr Baum said he knew very little about the sportsman, widely known as Alfie, when they first met. |
| "I didn't know anything about his past, I just fell in love with the man and his sense of humour and him," he recalled. | "I didn't know anything about his past, I just fell in love with the man and his sense of humour and him," he recalled. |
| "All we did was laugh and he was such a breath of fresh air." | "All we did was laugh and he was such a breath of fresh air." |
| Mr Thomas became the first openly gay professional rugby union player when he came out in 2009. | Mr Thomas became the first openly gay professional rugby union player when he came out in 2009. |
| He switched to rugby league before retiring in 2011 and has since forged successful career as a pundit and commentator. | He switched to rugby league before retiring in 2011 and has since forged successful career as a pundit and commentator. |
| In 2019, he revealed he had HIV, saying he wanted to end the stigma around it - a decision was widely applauded with high profile supporters including Prince William. | In 2019, he revealed he had HIV, saying he wanted to end the stigma around it - a decision was widely applauded with high profile supporters including Prince William. |
| Mr Baum, who now lives and works in south-west England said he bears no ill-will towards his former partner. | Mr Baum, who now lives and works in south-west England said he bears no ill-will towards his former partner. |
| Asked what he would do if he saw him in the street, he said: "I would wish him and his family well. That's my closure. I can move on." | Asked what he would do if he saw him in the street, he said: "I would wish him and his family well. That's my closure. I can move on." |
| Related Topics | |
| HIV & Aids | |
| Gareth Thomas | |
| Bridgend |