A paramedic convicted of raping a patient had been reported to police by an ambulance service nearly a decade before he was charged.
Andrew Wheeler was suspended following the allegations in 2010 but returned to work after the investigation concluded. No safeguarding procedures were put in place.
Wheeler, from Warboys/Cambridgeshire, was suspended again following further allegations in 2018 and was dismissed when he was charged by police in September 2019.
In January, Wheeler was found guilty of six sexual offences, including raping a patient in her own home and sexually assaulting another female patient in the back of his ambulance.
Wheeler was jailed for 21 years and prosecutors said he “abused the privilege and trust that wearing an NHS uniform brings”.
Police said it was “feasible” there might be other victims who were still too frightened to come forward.
A Spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “During the investigation, we became aware that a previous similar allegation against Wheeler had been made in 2010.
“The investigation at that time concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed to a prosecution.
“In light of the information received detailing further allegations, the previous investigation was reviewed and reopened.
“This crime was comprehensively reinvestigated and, in light of this investigation and the corroborative value of the more recent allegations, a decision was made to charge.”
At the trial, Wheeler was cleared of the 2010 allegation by the jury.
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