Chef admits passing on HIV virus

Miss X says Giovanni Mola infected her during unprotected sex

An Italian chef has admitted in court that he had infected his former girlfriend with HIV and Hepatitis C.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Giovanni Mola, 38, said he accepted he had infected the woman, known as Miss X.

He said he did not tell her about his condition as he believed the situation was under control and he was using condoms.

He denies culpably and recklessly failing to say he had HIV to the danger of the woman's life in Edinburgh.

When asked by prosecuter Dorothy Bain: "Do you accept you infected her?" Mr Mola replied: "Yes".

However, he added: "We thought the situation was under control. We took precautions.

"There is medical evidence, but it is difficult to accept even now that this is the case."

I couldn't cope with the situation, how I was being looked at and knowing what was happening to her Giovanni Mola

He admitted he had lied to police when he denied he was HIV and Hepatitis C positive.

"Only someone who had been marked by the illness and has the internal scars would understand," he said.

Earlier he was asked if there had ever been problems with the condoms.

He said: "From what I remember nothing I am aware of."

Mr Mola told the jury that five months after his police interview he returned to Italy.

He said: "I couldn't cope with the situation, how I was being looked at and knowing what was happening to her.

"It was like a rainbow of negativity all around me."

Edinburgh supermarket

He admitted he had delayed getting treatment for his HIV for two years until he had returned to Italy.

He claimed he did not understand what the doctors in Scotland were telling him.

The offence is alleged to have taken place between September 2003 and February 2004 at an address in Home Street, Edinburgh, and elsewhere in the city.

Mr Mola told the court that he and Miss X began chatting after she smiled at him in an Edinburgh supermarket.

He said claims that he had bedded 200 women were untrue and denied ever having any sexual activity with Miss X without using a condom.

The trial before Lord Hodge continues.