A care worker has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after repeatedly sexually assaulting two vulnerable residents under his supervision.
In 2025, staff had grown increasingly concerned about David Jones’s behaviour towards certain residents. One colleague noted that Jones would visit one resident far more frequently than required, while neglecting to check on others in his care. On Wednesday 5 February 2025, Jones was working a night shift alongside two colleagues at a care facility in East Kent.
At around 3am, staff who were concerned for the welfare of the resident followed Jones to the victim’s room. When they opened the door, they found him acting indecently towards the resident. He was immediately confronted and instructed to leave the room, and the victim was placed into the care of other staff members. Staff reported the incident to Kent Police and officers attended Jones’s home address in Herne Bay, less than 24 hours later. They arrested him on suspicion of engaging in sexual activity with a person without consent, and during the arrest, he was searched and a mobile phone was seized.
Investigators downloaded the content of the phone and uncovered multiple photos and videos of a sexual nature involving a second victim. Officers conducted a number of lines of enquiry and established that the images were taken during times Jones was on duty at the care home. Evidence found on the device strongly indicated that the victim had been seriously sexually assaulted. In addition to the images of the elderly victim, officers also discovered hundreds of indecent images of children.
The 53-year-old was later charged with multiple sexual offences including the possession of indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty to all charges and on Friday 22 May 2026, at Canterbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Richard Allingham said:
‘Instead of fulfilling his duty of care, Jones exploited vulnerable women for his own sexual gratification. His actions were deplorable and a profound breach of trust.
I welcome the sentence handed down by the court today, and I want to thank the victim’s families for their courage and support throughout this investigation.’