Andrew Hutchinson: Nurse jailed for 18 years after filming himself raping unconscious patients

A nurse who filmed himself raping unconscious patients as well as committing a series of other sex acts across Oxfordshire has been jailed for 18 years.

Andrew Hutchinson, 29, pleaded guilty to assaulting patients while they lay unconscious Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where he worked.

He admitted a total of 27 offences after targeting his victims, including one aged nine, in a spate of offences including voyeurism, making indecent images of children and sexually assaulting two women who passed out through alcohol at the Wilderness Festival medical tent in Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire.

He was first arrested in November 2013 accused of filming young girls at a leisure centre in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. His arrest led to police seizing his possessions such as his phone and laptop, where officers uncovered further incriminating images and videos.

Thames Valley Police said many of the victims had been unaware offences were committed against them because they were unconscious at the time or did not know that they were being recorded.

Police have been able to identify 11 victims of rape and voyeurism overall, while a further 18 victims of voyeurism cannot be traced.

Hutchinson pleaded guilty to all counts, including rape, voyeurism, sexual assault, making indecent photographs of children and theft/possession of ketamine on 30 March.

Detective chief inspector Mark Johns of Thames Valley Police CID said: "I am pleased that Hutchinson has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for this string of depraved offences across Oxfordshire. I have no doubt that Hutchinson would have continued to offend had he not been arrested so I am delighted that this prolific offender will now be behind bars for a significant period of his life.

"This has been a particularly complicated, unusual and sensitive 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 the victims.

"I would like to thank the victims for the great courage and dignity they have shown during our investigation. I cannot imagine the distress they have been through since we had to inform them they were a victim in this complex investigation. I hope the victims feel some sense of justice now Hutchinson has been convicted and sentenced."

Adrian Foster, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "Andrew Hutchinson abused his position of trust and took advantage of his circumstances to prey on his victims for his own sexual gratification. His offending came to light after his arrest on 4 November 2013, on suspicion of voyeurism in the unisex changing rooms at an Abingdon leisure centre.

"Images and films of sex offences being committed, indecent images of children, and upskirt footage taken at the hospital and in public were recovered on devices seized from him. Many of the victims of the sex offences had been unaware that offences had been committed against them because they were unconscious when they took place. They only became aware when they were contacted by the police during the course of their investigation.

"The emotional impact on the victims and their families of the abhorrent actions of this man is impossible to quantify. I hope that the conviction and today's sentence gives some small comfort to them. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time."