RAPE case paramedic Gordon Thompson left court a free man today after being cleared of all nine charges against him.

He was found not guilty of six charges of rape and three of indecent assault against patients he befriended.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court acquitted him yesterday of seven of the charges. An eighth charge of indecent assault was thrown out early today.

The judge, Mr Justice Curtis, entered a not guilty verdict to the final charge of rape after the jury failed to agree and the prosecution offered no further evidence.

Mr Thompson, 36, of Arkell Avenue, Carterton, left court without commenting.

He denied all the charges during the six-day trial.

He was accused of attacking three women. All three had addictions to drink and drugs and claimed they were attacked in their homes between October 1995 and January 1997.

Mr Thompson got to know the women when he was part of the ambulance crew called to their homes after they had taken overdoses.

During the trial he admitted he had gone to their homes, but said his only purpose was to see how they were after they were discharged from hospital and to help them.

Mr Thompson, who served in the RAF and saw action in the Falklands War, was suspended by Oxfordshire Ambulance Service when the allegations were first made early last year.

He now faces disciplinary action from the service for breaking strict guidelines about visiting patients outside working hours.

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