Gareth Thomas, accused by his ex-companion of having transmitted HIV to him by hiding his HIV status, announced on Monday that he had reached an amicable agreement with him, to which he paid the equivalent of 85,000 euros.
Gareth Thomas (48) will not need to go to court. Accused by Ian Baum (59), her ex-boyfriend of having transmitted HIV to her by hiding that he was HIV-positive, the former captain of Wales was the subject of a complaint which could have earned him an upcoming trial. Nothing will happen. The BBC reveals on Tuesday that the case has been settled between the two ex-companions, who have reached an amicable agreement in the form of financial compensation for the most capped player in the history of the Welsh selection. (100 selections) against Baum, who had assured that the ex-rugby player “had not taken the necessary precautions”, in the same way that he had hidden from his companion at the time “that he was HIV positive” and “(had) transmitted to him”. Thomas confirmed by announcing that he had closed the chapter by paying more than 75,000 pounds, the equivalent of 85,000 euros to Baum. The 2005 European champion when he wore the colors of Stade Toulousain admitted in the process that he was very happy that this story is now ancient history.
Thomas: “It’s nothing compared to the sums I could have spent”
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.
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) January 30, 2023
“I am happy to say that this legal case has still been settled”, admitted Thomas, specifying in passing that this amicable agreement does not constitute “an admission of responsibility or guilt”, in the same way as the Welshman “(maintains his) innocence in all baseless allegations”. “Paying 75,000 pounds plus (procedural) costs is nothing compared to the sums I would have had to spend to successfully defend myself in court,” added the former star player of “fifteen du Leek”. who believes that “for (his) own mental health and that of (my) family, this agreement is extremely positive”. “There are no winners in HIV cases,” said Thomas, who revealed in 2019 that he was HIV positive. Baum, meanwhile, had revealed that he found out about the former Cardiff Blues winger’s HIV status through pills presented by Thomas as vitamins when they were actually linked to the former captain’s HIV treatment. “Dragons”. But the chapter is now closed.
