Vincent Walkem was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison Friday for having unprotected sex with an unsuspecting woman and trying to have sex with another despite being HIV positive.

Walking to the courthouse Walkem, 29, was asked if he regretted his actions.

"Yes, I do," was his brief response.

For almost three years after testing positive for HIV, Walkem was still having unprotected sex with unsuspecting women. One of the women was 18-years-old at the time and has since tested positive for the virus.

Her best friend, who cannot be identified, described an emotional scene in the courtroom when the sentence was handed down.

"We were all crying because it feels like nothing for what's been taken away from her," the friend said outside the courthouse.

Walkem pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault. During his trial, Walkem testified he did not know why he chose not to inform his sexual partners about his HIV status. He added that he wanted to get counselling.

Justice Arthur Gans ordered counselling for Walkem and that he be sent to a prison where he can pursue a university degree.

The decision met with criticism from Det. Const. Shawna Coxon.

"Our victim has struggled to put herself through university and pay for her medications and he's going to get free university education, thanks to our government."

Critics said the courts seemed to go out of their way to protect Walkem throughout the trial. He was granted bail on two occasions and on Friday Gans threatened to postpone the sentencing unless Walkem's medication was guaranteed to be available behind bars.

Prosecutor Mary Humphrey asked for eight-years in prison out of a possible maximum sentence of 25 years.

"Mr. Walkem will be released from jail but the victim will have problems for her entire life," Humphrey said.

The sentence gave Walkem 22 months in prison for trying to infect one woman and 34 months for actually infecting the other. But he could be eligible for parole in as little as nine months.

With a report from CTV's John Lancaster