Sex worker Hector Scott, who is known to have practiced in the ACT, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria, NSW and Queensland, could have infected more than 300 people, according to ACT Chief Health Officer Charles Guest.

The claim was made in an affidavit by Dr Guest in support of an application to have Scott placed on the territory's child sex offender register. Dr Guest said entries in Scott's diary referred to "bare-backing" and having sex with boys under 16. Undercover police testified that if requested, he would not use a condom.

Scott, who was first diagnosed HIV positive in 1999, also allegedly ignored repeated warnings from Western Australian health authorities to stop sex work.

Last month Scott pleaded guilty to operating as a sex worker while unregistered, and while knowing he had a communicable disease. Last Thursday the case was adjourned for a month to allow sentencing and the CHOs application to be dealt with together.

Andre Chad Parenzee was sentenced last year to nine years for having unprotected sex with three women while knowing he was HIV positive. Another South Australian is alleged to have infected eight men with HIV between January 2005 and mid-2006.

Meanwhile, Melbourne man Michael John Neal, 48, is awaiting trial, charged with attempting to infect 16 men with HIV between 2000 and 2006. The case is expected to commence in late June.

by DOUG POLLARD