A care assistant who worked at a residential home has been jailed for 21 years after admitting he raped four women, including three elderly residents. The case was heard at Lincoln Crown Court, where the judge described the crimes as a gross abuse of trust.
Joshua Springer, 36, had been working at a care home in Lincolnshire since February 2025. For months, the women and their families trusted him to provide care and support. Instead, he used his job to target some of the most vulnerable people in society.
His crimes first came to light in June last year. A colleague at the care home heard what were described in court as “muffled noises.” Concerned, the staff member went to check. That was when Springer was interrupted while attacking one of the residents.
Lincoln Crown Court heard that when he was disturbed, Springer “immediately jumped back, clawed at his trousers and said ‘oh f***’.” He was suspended from his job and escorted out of the building straight away.
Police later arrested him at his home. When officers arrived, he denied what had happened. He said: “No way, this is one big misunderstanding, I can explain.” But the investigation was only beginning.
At first, he was arrested on suspicion of one rape. However, more shocking details soon emerged. On July 22, his own mother contacted police. Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC told the court that Springer had confessed to her in messages and conversations.
The court heard that he described himself to his mother as a “rapist and borderline paedo.” During a Facetime call, he admitted: “Mum, I’m guilty.” His mother then shared this information with officers, which led to further inquiries.
As police looked deeper into his actions, they uncovered even more evidence. DNA linked Springer to one of the victims. Officers also examined his mobile phones. What they found made the case even worse.
Springer admitted he had filmed all four victims with his phone. The recordings showed the attacks taking place. In police interviews, he said he was scared the videos would be discovered and that he would be “going to the jail for a long time.”
Investigators also discovered more than 760 indecent images on his devices. Some of these involved very young children. Springer admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children.
During questioning, he told police: “I don’t know why I did it but I did.” He also said he had been addicted to marijuana and alcohol for the past 10 years.
As the case moved forward, more charges were brought against him. Springer pleaded guilty to nine counts of rape against four women. Six of the charges related to the three elderly residents at the care home. The remaining three were connected to a fourth, younger victim from North Yorkshire.
In court, he showed little reaction as the details were read out. He had previous cautions for possession of an offensive weapon in 2005 and a public order offence in 2014, but no previous convictions for serious crimes like these.
Family members of the victims were given the chance to speak. Their words filled the courtroom with emotion.
The partner of one victim, who cannot be named to protect her identity, said: “Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought this could happen to my wife. This horror is something I am going to have great difficulty with for the rest of my life.”
The daughter of another victim turned towards Springer and spoke about the pain he had caused. She told him directly that he had brought trauma to her mother for his own pleasure. “My mother deserved so much better than this,” she said firmly.
The mother of the youngest victim also shared her feelings. She described his behaviour as “reprehensible actions” and explained how deeply her daughter had been affected.
Anna Soubry, defending Springer, accepted that he should be classed as a dangerous offender. She asked the court to give him credit for pleading guilty.
“Frankly there is not a lot to be said,” she told the judge. “This defendant told his mother he was going to go to prison for a very long time. He was right… and has known from the outset that he will receive a very lengthy custodial sentence.”
Finally, Judge Simon Hirst passed sentence. He said that each of the four women was especially vulnerable because of their personal situations. The fact that Springer filmed the assaults made the crimes even more degrading.
“Each of these four women were vulnerable in their particular ways,” Judge Hirst said. He added that Springer had committed a serious breach of trust by targeting people who depended on him for care. “You specifically targeted particularly vulnerable victims,” he told the defendant.
The judge also said he had read and listened to the impact statements from the families. “I have read and heard the impact on each of the families from what you have done for no other reason than your own sexual gratification.”
Springer, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to 21 years in prison. He will also be on the sex offenders register for life. In addition, he was given a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and a six-year extension to the licence period after his release.
After the sentencing, Det Ch Insp Jennifer Lovatt spoke about the case. She praised the women and their families for their strength.
“Springer’s actions show a clear lack of human decency and respect for the victims he targeted,” she said. “He abused a position of trust and used the access he had to attack some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”
She also made it clear that the investigation is not over. Springer is also known as Joshua Kearney and Joshua Kearney Springer. DCI Lovatt urged anyone who may have been harmed by him to come forward.
“While Springer has today been sentenced for his horrific crimes, that does not mean that our investigations have stopped,” she said. “Our team has worked tirelessly for some time in bringing Springer to justice, and there may be other potential victims who perhaps have not yet come forward.”
