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Nurse Guilty Of Rape And Sexual Assaults In A&E

Nurse Guilty Of Rape And Sexual Assaults In A&E

A staff nurse at an Oxford hospital has pleaded guilty to a series of sex offences committed in A&E - with victims as young as 10.

Andrew Hutchinson has been convicted of crimes against 11 women, many of which were conducted in the emergency department of the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The counts against the 29-year-old included rape, voyeurism, outraging public decency, and sexual assault.

His campaign of abuse also extended to other locations across Oxfordshire, including the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon, and the medical tent of a festival.

Thames Valley Police believes Hutchinson's many attacks took place between October 2011 and November 2013.

Further offences levelled against the nurse include making indecent images of children, the theft of medical equipment, and the possession of the class B drug, ketamine.

Images of sex offences were found by police on his mobile phone and camera. When the victims featured in the photographs were approached by detectives, many did not know they had been recorded or filmed.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Johns said Hutchinson's guilty plea has spared victims the distress of having to endure a trial.

He added: "I have no doubt that Hutchinson would have continued to offend had he not been arrested.

"This has been a complicated and unusual case as the victims of his sex offences were not aware that offences took place because they were not conscious.

"Thames Valley Police sent specially trained officers to personally speak to all of the victims, who showed great courage when informed with such distressing news."

Mark Power, director of workforce for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I can confirm that in November 2013 the Trust was informed by Thames Valley Police of the arrest of a male nurse, who at the time was employed at our John Radcliffe Hospital.

"Subsequently, Thames Valley Police have been conducting an extensive investigation and we have done everything possible to support this process. Since his arrest, the individual has not worked in any part of the Trust and is no longer an employee of ours.

"Our thoughts today are with the victims, whose trust was so betrayed in our hospital and elsewhere.

"We have been shocked and horrified by the behaviour of the individual, who so badly let down both the patients he was entrusted to care for and his fellow colleagues, and who totally failed in his professional duties and responsibilities as a nurse.

“I would wish to reassure members of the public that the welfare and safety of our patients is always our first priority."

Hutchinson has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 27 April.