Children display ribbon cut-outs tied to balloons during an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to mark World AIDS Day in Kolkata December 1, 2014. The world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and kille
Children display ribbon cut-outs tied to balloons during an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to mark World AIDS Day in Kolkata December 1, 2014. The world has finally reached "the beginning of the end" of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years, according to a leading campaign group fighting HIV. United Nations data show that in 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus and some 1.5 million people died of AIDS. By far the greatest part of the HIV/AIDS burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri

A Winnipeg man who is positively infected with the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, stands to spend 6.5 years in jail for spitting his saliva onto the face of a police officer.

The man was identified as 43-year old Clifford Bear. This is actually his second time to face jail time.

He earlier received a one year jail sentence in 2011 after getting convicted of assault. But the Manitoba Court of Appeal ordered for a re-sentencing, saying Bear should have been convicted of attempted aggravated assault. A conviction for attempted aggravated assault receives a seven year imprisonment. "In my view, the conduct displayed by Mr. Bear, even given that he was intoxicated at the time, was reprehensible," Toronto Sun quoted Justice Deborah McCawley on Monday.

Bear was caught shoplifting at a Winnipeg bargain store. He assaulted two staff members who tried to stop him. He then jumped on a bus, but was later arrested by the police. On the way to the police station, Bear said he was HIV-positive. The officers then put on Bear a spit sock to prevent him from spitting. When they got into the prison cell, he took it off and stayed in a corner. When an officer entered to check on him, Bear then spit bloody saliva into the police officer's eye, as well as onto his nose and forehead.

Crown attorney Ami Kotler told the court on Monday it would be highly irregular to say that Bear's actions were done out of impulse. "This was premeditated," Kotler said.

The victimised officer was taken to the hospital and given anti-viral medication. He was severely ill for several days. Further tests showed he had escaped the wrath of the HIV.

Bear, meantime, it seemed, had a passion for assaulting police officers, based on his lengthy criminal record. He has also shown no remorse for his actions, Kotler said. "There is literally nothing we can do to disarm him," the Crown attorney said. "He sees HIV as a weapon he carries around with him at all times, everywhere he goes."