A man convicted of raping a woman collapsed after being informed that his victim was HIV positive.

Richard Thomas, 27, broke into the Greater Manchester, UK home of an acquaintance on July 20th to find the unidentified woman asleep in her bed.

The victim had taken a sleeping pill but awoke to find Thomas raping her from behind.

Thomas later claimed that he was under the influence of multiple drugs including cocaine and ecstasy, and did not recall the incident but believed the woman's version of events.

He was sentenced to five years and four months and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Prior to sentencing, Thomas was informed by police that his victim had tested positive for HIV.

He collapsed from shock and asked to be rushed to a hospital for testing.

Thomas told authorities he was aware the woman was sick but did not know the nature of her illness.

His test results are due Friday.

Thomas received no sympathy from his own lawyer, Virginia Hayton, who said, "it is his own fault, if he had not committed this offence, he would not have placed himself in this position."