Physio Peter John Wells, 55, faces hearing over alleged abuse of elite female swimmers
A committal hearing for a Brisbane physio accused of sexually assaulting elite female swimmers, including Olympic medallists, has begun, with 28 witnesses set to be called.
A physiotherapist accused of abusing elite female swimmers including Olympic medallists has faced a hearing on whether the evidence is strong enough to be committed to a higher court.
Peter John Wells, who worked with the Australian swimming team at multiple Olympics, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
The 55-year-old who from the Gap is charged with five counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child and four counts of sexual assault.
There are multiple complainants with the alleged offending spanning two decades.
Wells was flanked by supporters who took up three rows of the court’s public gallery.
A young woman hugged Wells and placed her arm on his shoulders before the committal hearing started.
Well’s held his wife’s hand throughout some of the morning’s proceedings.
Crown prosecutor David Nardone said 28 witnesses would be called throughout the week.
Investigating officer Snr Con Michael Jenkinson was cross-examined by defence barrister Craig Eberhardt, KC, about asking Swimming Australia officials for a physio who could provide a statement saying “the massage technique used by Wells was not the done thing”.
“You’d already decided then that you needed a physio who would say that the massage technique was not the done thing, as opposed to an independent one who might say, in fact, it’s perfectly normal,” Mr Eberhardt said.
Det Jenkinson said he’d also requested the name of a physio from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
In a phone call with one of the complainants Det Jenkinson recorded her saying Wells allegedly tapped her bum and made her touch her toes “while he stood behind my bum”.
“No reference to touching the nipple in that is there,” Mr Eberhardt asked.
“I agree with you,” Det Jenkinson said.
He also agreed that he had got a complainant to speak to another complainant.
“It wasn’t ideal,” he conceded.
The court was closed for several alleged victims to give evidence – a process which could take days.
The hearing is scheduled to run to Friday before Magistrate Peter Saggers who will determine whether to commit the charges to Brisbane’s District Court.
