Ex-military medic denies conducting breast exams
GATINEAU, QUE .• A former medical technician accused of performing unnecessary and inappropriate breast exams at military recruiting centres in Ontario took the stand in his own defence Friday, and denied the exams ever took place.
Retired petty officer James Wilks f aces eight counts of breach of trust and one count of sexual assault in connection with complaints filed by six women in Thunder Bay, London and Windsor, Ont.
The women have accused him of having them strip from the waist up so he could visually examine their breasts during routine medical exams at the recruiting centres. One also accused Wilks of touching her breasts under the pretence of conducting a breast exam.
But Wilks, who said he had conducted more than 3,000 medical examinations on prospective recruits during his more than 25 years in uniform, said he never asked any of the women to remove their tops. He also said he never touched any of the women’s breasts.
“I did not conduct any breast exams . . . or visual exams,” Wilks said under cross-examination from mil- itary prosecutor Maj. Adam Van Der Linde, adding: “I did not have an applicant or recruit bare her breasts.”
Wilks, who at one point told the court that he had been convicted of one count of breach of trust and one count of assault in the past six years, told the military court that one of the women did show her breasts during her exam. But he said she did it without him asking, before he quickly asked her to cover back up.
During their testimony l ast week, several of the women indicated they were initially reluctant to come forward and report Wilks because of concerns for their military careers. The alleged incidents occurred between 2005 and 2009.
The prosecution and defence are expected to present closing arguments next week.