A 32-year-old male nurse has been formally charged in Germany over a series of alleged sexual assaults on patients, including one victim said to be as young as 14 years old.
The suspect, an intensive care and anaesthesia nurse based in Dortmund, is accused of raping five patients between April 2017 and August 2025.
According to prosecutors, four of the alleged victims are female, while one is male. The victims were reportedly aged 14, 28, 35 and 43, while the age of the fifth victim has not been disclosed.
Court officials said four of the alleged offences occurred while the patients were either in an induced coma or under general anaesthesia, rendering them unable to resist or call for help.
The remaining incident, involving the 14-year-old girl, allegedly took place while she was conscious.
A spokesperson for the Essen Regional Court told German newspaper Bild that the victims were “helpless and unconscious” during several of the alleged attacks. Investigators also allege that some of the incidents were recorded by the suspect.
The case reportedly came to light in July when police raided the nurse’s home on suspicion of possessing child pornography.
During the search, officers allegedly discovered images and videos believed to have been recorded inside hospital settings, prompting a broader investigation into his activities.
Authorities said three of the alleged rapes took place at Essen University Hospital, while another occurred at a different medical facility.
The suspect is believed to have worked at several hospitals across North Rhine-Westphalia, including in Münster, Gelsenkirchen and Bochum, securing roles through a temporary employment agency.
He also reportedly worked part-time at Dortmund Hospital, with an employment history spanning around 10 different employers.
During the raid, police seized computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones containing several terabytes of data. The suspect has since been remanded in custody.
This week, prosecutors filed four counts of rape, two counts of sexual abuse, and charges relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography.
Essen University Hospital said the nurse had presented a clean criminal record at the time of his employment.
Under German law, the suspect’s identity has not been made public, in line with constitutional protections on personal rights.
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