PARAMEDIC ACCUSED OF 7 RAPES

Man denies 10 sex attack charges involving four women, including two patients

A Cambridgeshire paramedic will stand trial over allegations he sexually abused four women, including raping a patient, after pleading not guilty to a string of charges against four different women.

Andrew Wheeler appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday, where he was charged with a total of 10 sexual offences.

The charges are alleged to have been committed against four women, and are said to have taken place over a period of 16 years, starting in 2002 and ending last year.

Wheeler, who wore a suit, blue shirt and tie for the short hearing, entered not guilty pleas to all of the 10 counts he faces.

He is charged with five counts of rape of one woman, between 2002 and 2013, one count of rape and one of sexual assault against another woman, between 2008 and 2009, one count of causing sexual activity without consent against a third woman in 2010, and one count of rape and one count of a sexual assault against a fourth woman last year.

The court heard the third and fourth woman were patients when the offences were said to have been committed.

The45-year-old listened intently to the proceedings sitting in the dock. He had appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ last month for a preliminary hearing.

The court heard the trial is due to take place at Cambridge Crown Court, starting on May 11 next year, and is expected to last up to 10 days.

Cambridgeshire police said all the alleged offences are said to have been committed while Wheeler worked as a paramedic for the East of England Ambulance Service, and while volunteering for the St John Ambulance.

Cambridgeshire police also confirmed all the women were over the age of 16. The offences were all committed in Cambridgeshire.

Wheeler, of Signal Road, Ramsey, was granted bail until the next hearing, set by Judge Matthew Lowe.

The next hearing, which will deal with administration of the case, will take place in December.