Paramedic who sexually assaulted patients jailed

Judge describes Andrew Wheeler as a ‘manipulative sexual predator’

Andrew Wheeler was sentenced to 21 years in prison (PA)

A paramedic has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after he raped a patient in her home and sexually assaulted another in the back of an ambulance.

Andrew Wheeler, 46, was described as a “manipulative sexual predator” by the judge, while prosecutors said the former emergency worker “abused the privilege and trust that wearing an NHS uniform brings”.

Wheeler, of Warboys in Cambridgeshire, was found guilty of six sexual offences at Peterborough Crown Court. Cambridgeshire Constabulary have said it possible is there are further victims who have not yet come forward.

Police also believe Wheeler’s career path “was influenced by the access ... to potentially vulnerable members of the public”.

The jury found him guilty of the rape and sexual assault of two women, and two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, who was not a patient.

Wheeler was working for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) at the time of the offences.

His crimes came to light after he raped and sexually assaulted a patient in 2018.

The court heard how Wheeler was on shift as a single-crew paramedic responding to a call to help the woman, who was intoxicated and had collapsed at a friend’s house.

When two other paramedics arrived, he sent them away, saying he had it under control. He then took the woman to her home and raped and sexually assaulted her.

Noel Casey, prosecuting, said the woman was “extremely intoxicated” and was “unable to properly respond or even resist what he did to her, and he did these things while she was alone in her own home, the defendant having taken her there”.

The woman reported the attack to the police and Wheeler was arrested later that day.

The woman said in a victim impact statement read to the court: “I have no faith in the NHS and I’ve avoided seeing a paramedic and attending the hospital just because of what happened.”

She said she has flashbacks, adding: “I couldn’t handle dealing with life. I became a recluse.”

Another victim then came forward and told police the paramedic had her raped when she was not a patient in 2009 and sexually assaulted in the back of an ambulance in 2010.

He was also convicted of two counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13, not related to his work as a paramedic, in 2013 and 2014.

DCI Sherrie Nash, from the force’s Protecting Vulnerable People department, encouraged “anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, and not previously felt able to report it” to contact the force on 101 or via webchat on the website.

Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Brunning said: “Andrew Wheeler is a predatory individual whose offending has spanned nearly a decade. We believe his decision to become a paramedic was influenced by the access it would give him to potentially vulnerable members of the public and this breach of trust makes his appalling offences all the more deplorable.”

He commended Wheeler’s victims for their bravery in coming forward, adding: “I can’t imagine what they have gone through but I hope today’s sentencing allows them to continue rebuilding their lives knowing that justice has been done.”

Wheeler was acquitted of seven other charges and the jury could not reach a verdict on a further five charges of rape.

The Rape Crisis freephone helpline number is 0808 802 9999 for England and Wales.

Rape Crisis Scotland’s freephone helpline is available at 08088 01 03 02.

The Rape Crisis phone number for Northern Ireland is 0800 0246 991.