Nurse who sexually assaulted an 85-year-old woman in her home.

Steven Hicks, 60, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman in her home.

Hicks, a healthcare professional, had been providing care to the woman after she was released from hospital following a fall.

On 5 January 2022, disguised in medical clothing and wearing a surgical mask and thick-rimmed glasses, Hicks made an unscheduled visit to the woman's home in Earley.

During the visit, he sexually assaulted her.

Hicks denied the assault, but a jury found him guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service presented compelling evidence.

Forensic evidence revealed Hicks' DNA matched that found on the woman's body and clothing.

Phone location data contradicted his claim of being at home that night, placing him near the victim's address.

This evidence was corroborated by a detailed account from the victim and footage from her video doorbell confirming someone had visited her home that evening.

Prior to the assault, Hicks had accessed the woman's clinical records multiple times, often when he was on annual leave, raising suspicion.

The woman had cancelled any further evening care on 4 January; however, Hicks visited her the next evening after checking her records again that day.

Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Shilpa Shah stated: "This was a shocking crime carried out by someone in a trusted profession. Steven Hicks knew the victim was vulnerable and that no other carers were due to visit her that evening, and he used his position to gain access to her home to assault her, in her own bedroom."

"Hicks denied the charges against him, but we were able to present evidence to the court clearly linking him to the assault. His DNA matched that found on the victim and her clothing, and his phone data placed him near her home at the time of the offence. He will now spend time in prison for his crime."