PARAMEDIC Gordon Thompson raped a former patient while his wife was pregnant, a jury was told.

The 35-year-old paramedic also told police sexual encounters with one alleged victim had been "very sordid" and he felt "deep regrets" about what he had done.

Thompson, of Arkell Avenue, Carterton, denies six counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault of three women between October 1995 and January 1997.

He claims the alleged victims consented to sex.

Police interviews read to the jury at Oxford Crown Court on the third day of Thompson's trial revealed his wife was pregnant at the time he made several visits to one woman's Oxford home.

It is claimed Thompson befriended the woman after being part of an ambulance crew that took her to hospital following a drink and drugs overdose.

Hefin Rees, prosecuting, said Thompson admitted in police interview having sexual contact with the woman three times - but claimed she consented.

Reading a summary of the interviews, Mr Rees told the court: "He said he was married and admitted his wife was pregnant at the time.

"He said that every time he left her home he felt deep regrets about what he had done.

"He said it had been very sordid in a way. He had left quickly, conscious that his wife would have been expecting him home."

Earlier, tape recordings of messages left on the woman's answer machine after Thompson called her from his base at an Oxford hospital were played to the jury.

On one, he urged her to call him while he was on duty and said: "My number is 999."

The case continues.

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