Update: German singer spared jail after apologising for her actions at end of trial

Benaissa, from girl band “No Angels”, admitted having unprotected sex, but denied deliberately infecting anyone.

The 28-year-old singer was found guilty of causing bodily harm to one man and of two cases of attempted bodily harm.

Benaissa, who had apologised for her actions, could be jailed for up to 10 years if the maximum punishment had been applied.

At the start of her trial last week, she told the court in Darmstadt that she was "sorry from the bottom of my heart" for not warning her ex-boyfriend she was HIV-positive.

He testified how he became infected with HIV during their three month relationship in 2004.

Benaissa was also accused of attempted bodily harm for having sex with two other men, who were not subsequently infected.

The singer testified how she had not told anybody about her disease because she had been afraid of the consequences for her career, which, she conceded, had been a "cowardly act".

Both prosecutors and defence lawyers had agreed that the singer should not be jailed. Instead, she should be given a two-year suspended sentence, prosecutors had argued.

No Angels were formed in 2000 on the international TV show Popstars, before recording a series of hits and emerging as Germany's most successful girl band.

They re-formed in 2007 and competed in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 23rd.