In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 25-year-old Joshua Beardmore was jailed for a minimum of 12 years after a “predatory” attempted rape and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl. Beardmore—of Barker Street, Worcester, Worcestershire—was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court following a violent attack in a dark alleyway. It was reported that the investigation began on the night of the assault when the victim managed to escape and sought help from a member of the public at a nearby cash machine.
The investigation established that Beardmore offered to walk the girl home after she visited his partner’s children. CCTV from a Co-op store at 10.10pm showed the pair shortly before Beardmore led the child into a “really, really dark” alleyway. Worcester Crown Court heard that Beardmore pretended to be on his mobile phone before dragging the girl to the ground, slapping her, and attempting to rape her. The prosecution reported that the victim was “terrified” and believed Beardmore was going to kill her as he pinned her down and carried out a penetrative sexual assault.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Beardmore was a repeat offender with a history of targeting the vulnerable. Worcester Crown Court heard that he had been “cautioned” in 2005 for indecently touching a boy under 13 and had a 2014 conviction for kidnapping a woman. The investigation established that when police arrived at his home to arrest him for the Worcester attack, Beardmore attempted to slash his wrists with a kitchen knife before being restrained. His own mother stood in court to express her “deep shame” and apologised directly to the victim’s family for his “cowardly” actions.
Judge Tim Tindal presided over the sentencing, branding Beardmore a “coward” for refusing to leave his cell to face the court. For his actions in Worcester, Beardmore was handed a life-style sentence with a minimum term of 12 years before he can be considered for parole. The judge noted that the victim had suffered “greatly” and that the severity of the violence used during the sexual assault necessitated a long-term removal from society to protect other children in Worcestershire.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Worcestershire, the status of Joshua Beardmore as of April 6, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: SERVING (Minimum 12-year term; sentenced 2018; currently incarcerated).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Earliest Release: 2030 (Subject to Parole Board assessment; potential 6-year licence period to follow).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Attempted rape of a child; Sexual assault by penetration; 2 counts total).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Worcester Crown Court; investigated by West Mercia Police.
- Criminal Record: 2005 caution for assault on a boy; 2014 kidnapping and robbery conviction; Violent 2018 alleyway attack on an 11-year-old girl.
- Origin: Barker Street, Worcester, Worcestershire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Beardmore is managed as a maximum-risk registered sex and violent offender within the prison estate and remains a critical priority for the West Mercia Police Public Protection Unit. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically his “predatory escalation” from a caution to kidnapping and eventually attempted child rape—his management is a priority. Authorities state that his use of physical violence and threats during the sexual assault indicates a highly dangerous offender who presents a lethal risk to the public.
As a registered sex offender for life, the then 25-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his eventual release will only be considered if he can prove he no longer poses a danger, a process hampered by his refusal to even attend his own sentencing. Any future residence in Worcester or the wider West Midlands will be subject to the most intensive Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), including strict exclusion zones. Any attempt to contact children or his previous victims will result in immediate return to high-security custody to ensure the ongoing safety of the public.
QUESTION – Given that the offender had a prior caution for abusing a boy and a conviction for kidnapping before he attempted to rape an 11-year-old, do you believe that “Escalating Predatory Behaviour” should result in an automatic whole-life tariff to prevent further victims?
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