Gareth Thomas' former partner has spoken out after the settlement of a legal case he filed against the Welsh rugby legend. Ian Baum had accused Mr Thomas of hiding his HIV status during their relationship.
The former Wales and Lions captain had been sued for £150,000 in damages by Mr Baum, who claimed Mr Thomas had failed to take "reasonable care" before allegedly passing the virus onto him. The case was due to be heard in the High Court later this year, but Mr Thomas confirmed on Monday that it had been settled in what he described as a "hugely positive outcome". He tweeted that he had paid Mr Baum £75,000 plus costs with no admission of liability or guilt, which he said was a fraction of what he would have had to pay to defend himself in court.
In a new statement Mr Baum's legal team, McCue Jury & Partners, has said: "Mr Baum’s claim against Mr Thomas was multi-faceted and included allegations that Mr Thomas deliberately concealed the fact that he was HIV positive from Ian, recklessly transmitted HIV to him during their relationship, and then behaved in a coercive and controlling way to prevent this from becoming public."
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The statement continues: "The settlement, while reached based on a non-admission of liability by Mr Thomas, nevertheless serves as significant vindication for our client after an eight-year ordeal, which has been the source of significant stress and trauma for him, combined with public allegations that by seeking redress he was somehow blackmailing Mr Thomas, when all he wanted was to be heard. Despite Mr Thomas’ significant financial and media power, Ian stood up for himself against the odds."
It adds: "Ian is looking forward to putting this unpleasant chapter of his life behind him. McCue Jury & Partners are pleased that, when no other firm would take Ian’s case, we did so and that we were able to help Ian achieve a positive outcome."
The Sarn-born TV personality, 48, had strongly denied the accusations that he had deliberately concealed his HIV status from Mr Baum, but admitted the subject was not initially brought up during their relationship. In court papers his legal team said he "was never asked by the claimant if he was HIV-positive and he never denied that he was". He also claimed he did not believe he could transmit the virus to others.
In his tweets about the settlement Mr Thomas said: "I'm making this announcement first before the tabloids take my truth. I am delighted to say that the legal case against me has been settled by means of a Part 36 offer. This is not an admission of liability or guilt. I maintain my innocence in all the meritless allegations.
"In personal injury cases like this the accuser has no financial risks even if they lose, but for me winning had huge financial implications. Paying £75k plus costs now is nothing compared to the many multiples of that sum I'd have had to pay to successfully defend myself in court."
He added: "For my own mental health and that of my family, this closure and acceptance from the other side is a hugely positive outcome. As the largest HIV charity in the UK said, there are no winners in HIV cases like these, and that is certainly the case. To all my family, friends and supporters and sponsors, I love you and thank you xxxx."
In the particulars of claim by Mr Baum, he had claimed that he and Mr Thomas had a "volatile and unpredictable" relationship between October 2013 and January 2016, with the claimant allegedly only learning of the former rugby player's positive status in May 2014, after discovering a large pill on their bedroom floor that was later found to be anti-viral HIV medication.
After discovering the pill, Mr Baum alleged that he took a rapid HIV test and received a positive result. He had claimed that only Mr Thomas could be responsible as he had been "wholly monogamous" in his relationship with the defendant, while he also alleged that the former Wales captain was "very repentant and apologetic" when he rang him to demand an explanation.
However, Mr Thomas denied that such a phone call ever took place. He went on to accuse Mr Baum of being promiscuous and claimed he was "blasé" about catching HIV when Mr Thomas did reveal his own status, "his attitude being that he was bound to get HIV sooner or later".
Mr Thomas admitted he had removed labels from HIV medication bottles but denied this was to prevent Mr Baum from discovering what they were. His defence had stated: "The defendant removed the labels to prevent others, such as family members, from seeing what medication he was taking."
The defence also said: "The defendant genuinely and reasonably believed that he could not transmit the condition to others whilst his CD4 count (a measure of immune function) was not at a dangerous level requiring medication. Whilst the defendant understands now that this was incorrect, it was a genuinely held belief at the material time."
In a statement made last September, Mr Thomas said: "Since the meritless allegations surfaced, I have endured a challenging torrent of abuse both online and in person. I’ve been spat at in the street, called a f*king AIDS spreader, told I should be locked up, that I should die, and much worse.
"That being said, I also feel extremely fortunate and I want to thank people for the incredible wave of support they have shown me both personally and professionally at this time. It has been empowering."
You can read more details from the court papers here.
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