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GATINEAU, Que. — A former medical technician accused of performing unnecessary and inappropriate breast exams at several military recruiting centres in Ontario is denying the exams ever took place.

Retired petty officer James Wilks faces eight counts of breach of trust and one of sexual assault after six women accused him of conducting the exams at military recruiting centres in London, Windsor and Thunder Bay between 2005 and 2009.

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Taking the stand in his own defence, Wilks says he never asked any of the women to take off their shirts or bras or otherwise expose themselves to him, nor did he ever touch any of them.

The women testified to a military court last week that Wilks asked them to take off their shirts and bras so he could visually examine their breasts during routine medical exams for new recruits.

One alleged Wilks also physically performed a breast exam.

Prosecutors and Wilks’s lawyer are expected to deliver their final statements next week, before the five-member military panel begins deliberations on a verdict.