Care Assistant Sentenced to 21 Years for Filming Rapes of Elderly Women
A care assistant who filmed himself raping three elderly women at a residential home has been jailed for 21 years. Joshua Springer, 36, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple horrific offences that shocked the community.
Discovery of Initial Offence
Springer was initially arrested on suspicion of committing one rape last summer after a colleague interrupted him during an attack at the Lincolnshire care home where he worked. The court heard that the colleague heard "muffled noises" in June 2025 and upon disturbing Springer, he "immediately jumped back, clawed at his trousers and said 'oh f***'." He was suspended and escorted from the premises immediately.
Confession to Mother Uncovered Further Crimes
Further offences came to light when Springer confessed to his mother that he was a "rapist and borderline paedo." During a Facetime call on July 22, he admitted "Mum, I'm guilty" prompting her to contact police with messages and conversations. This led to the discovery of additional victims and evidence.
Guilty Pleas and Charges
Springer pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to nine counts of rape against four women total. Six counts related to the three elderly women at the care home, while three counts involved a fourth, younger victim from North Yorkshire. The drug addict also admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children, with his collection containing over 760 images including several showing babies being attacked.
Evidence from Phones and DNA
Prosecutor Paul Raudnitz KC told the court that Springer had filmed all four victims with his phone and admitted being scared of the videos being found and "going to the jail for a long time." DNA evidence also linked Springer to one victim. When initially arrested at his home, Springer told police "No way, this is one big misunderstanding, I can explain."
Victim Impact Statements
Personal statements from relatives of the victims were read in court while Springer remained impassive in the dock. The partner of one victim 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 toward Springer and described the trauma he inflicted on her mother for his own pleasure, stating "My mother deserved so much better than this." The mother of Springer's youngest victim described how his "reprehensible actions" impacted her daughter.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst said the victims were all particularly vulnerable due to their personal circumstances and that filming the offences amounted to additional degradation. "Each of these four women were vulnerable in their particular ways," Judge Hirst told Springer of Stamford, Lincolnshire. "There was also a gross breach of trust in the targeting and recording of his victims. You specifically targeted particularly vulnerable victims."
The judge added "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 was also required to register as a sex offender for life, made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, and given a six-year extension to the licence period of his jail term.
Defence and Police Response
Anna Soubry, defending Springer, accepted he should be classed as a dangerous offender but urged the court to give credit for his guilty pleas, telling the court "Frankly there is not a lot to be said. 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."
Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Lovatt paid tribute to the "women at the centre of this case and their families" and said "Springer's actions show a clear lack of human decency and respect for the victims he targeted. He abused a position of trust and used the access he had to attack some of the most vulnerable people in our society."
She appealed for any other victims of Springer, who is also known as Joshua Kearney and Joshua Kearney Springer, to contact police, noting "While Springer has today been sentenced for his horrific crimes, that does not mean that our investigations have stopped. 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."
