Bleeding HIV sufferer stabbed man

An HIV-positive man has been found guilty of slashing his arms in a pub with a broken glass and then using it to stab another customer.

The man was forced to take an HIV test after he was cut on the hand by Michael Ring at the Royal George pub in Boxley Road on 20 September 2002.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how Ring, 45, of Quarry Square, Maidstone, had gone into the pub, where he was a regular, and told the landlord that he had just had the results of a test which showed he had AIDS.

After cutting himself with a broken glass, he shouted that he was HIV positive and stabbed John Stanley in the hand.

Yelled abuse at jurors

The jury was told that Mr Stanley's HIV test had proved negative.

Ring later assaulted two other people.

He denied wounding with intent and causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted by the jury.

He admitted one charge of causing actual bodily harm.

Warned by the judge that he faced life imprisonment because of a previous conviction, Ring yelled abuse at jurors, saying he was proud of what he had done.

The case has been adjourned until 10 June for psychiatric reports.