Cambridgeshire paramedic who sexually assaulted patient in back of ambulance jailed for 21 years

Andrew Wheeler, 46, of Mill Green, Warboys, was convicted of six sexual offences between 2009 and 2018 following a trial which began early in December.

Peterborough Crown Court heard Wheeler's offending came to light after he raped and sexually assaulted a woman in September 2018.

Judge Matthew Lowe said that Wheeler had shown an “arrogance and a belief that he was untouchable and protected, as he saw it, by his paramedic’s uniform”.

Wheeler had shown “not a shred of remorse”, he said, adding: “He’s demonstrated that he’s a manipulative sexual predator, willing to exploit for his own gratification the vulnerabilities of three separate (victims).”

The court heard Wheeler had responded as a single-crew paramedic to an emergency call to help the woman and reassured two other paramedics, who arrived as a dual-crew, that he had things under control.

He then took the intoxicated woman from a friend's home back to her home before carrying out the attack.

The woman told a friend, the incident was reported to police and Wheeler was arrested later that day.

Another victim then came forward who Wheeler had raped in 2009 and sexually assaulted in the back of an ambulance in April 2010.

Wheeler was also found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13, not connected to his work, between December 2013 and May 2014.

He was found not guilty of six counts of rape on a woman and the jury could not reach decisions on a further five counts of rape against the same victim. He was also found not guilty of a 2010 allegation of causing sexual activity without consent.

Jennifer Dempster QC, mitigating, said Wheeler had no previous convictions and was someone who has done a “great deal of positive work in his life”.

DCI Sherrie Nash, from the force’s Protecting Vulnerable People department, said due to the length of time Wheeler had been offending it was possible further victims had not yet come forward.

She said: “I would like to encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, and not previously felt able to report it, to contact us on 101 or via web chat on the force website. We take all reports of sexual offences very seriously.

“We have a dedicated team of specially trained officers and a network of partnership agencies and support services who will be ready to offer the assistance and support needed and to investigate allegations promptly, fully and professionally.

“We will work tirelessly to support all survivors of sexual violence and pursue those who commit harm. Support is available at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (The Elms), which can provide free support and practical advice to anyone in Cambridgeshire who has experienced sexual abuse https://www.theelmssarc.org/”

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 has caused a huge amount of suffering and trauma for his victims and I would like to pay tribute to their bravery in coming forwards and the patience and dignity they have shown throughout a lengthy legal process. 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.”