How many more did he rape? Churchgoing Manchester PhD student who became the world’s most prolific sex attacker after assaulting 195 men ‘could have had more victims’
- Churchgoing student Reynhard Sinaga, 36, preyed on at least 195 young men
- Police in Manchester have admitted that the number of assaults could be higher
- He incapacitated victims with the date rape drug GHB before filming his attacks
Reynhard Sinaga (pictured above), 36, preyed on at least 195 young men and police admit the true figure may be higher
A churchgoing PhD student was unmasked yesterday as the world’s worst serial rapist.
Reynhard Sinaga, 36, preyed on at least 195 young men and police admit the true figure may be higher. Jailing him for 30 years, a judge called him a ‘monster’.
Sinaga incapacitated victims with the date rape drug GHB before filming his attacks. Last night Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered a review into whether tougher controls are needed for the Class C drug widely used recreationally among the gay community.
Sinaga, who mostly targeted heterosexual students in Manchester, was convicted of 159 attacks, including 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes and 15 indecent assaults against 48 victims. Four trials were held over 18 months.
Footage was found of him assaulting up to 195 different men, 70 of whom have not been traced.
‘He would almost certainly be the most prolific sex offender to have gone through the British courts and quite possibly any court in the world,’ said Ian Rushton, North West deputy chief crown prosecutor.
The videos of the attacks Sinaga was charged with are believed to date from 2015 to 2017 and Sinaga arrived in Britain in 2007. A source said: ‘What he did in the intervening years is unknown and it is possible there are many more victims.’
As the authorities faced questions about how Sinaga was able to get away with his crimes for so long:
- Manchester University and police set up support helplines;
- Detectives appealed for other victims to come forward;
- It emerged that two men targeted by Sinaga attempted suicide;
- Jurors were offered counselling after having to watch videos of Sinaga’s rapes.
Sinaga (pictured above) posed as a Good Samaritan and would offer his victims a place to stay
Fifth Nightclub on Princess Street in Manchester city centre, and formerly known as 5th Avenue. One victim had been waiting outside the club when Sinaga approached him
The shocking case can finally be reported after the lifting of court reporting restrictions. Indonesian-born Sinaga was already serving a minimum of 20 years after being found guilty at trials in July 2018 and May 2019. Trials in October and December saw further convictions.
He posed as a ‘good Samaritan’ to men who had become separated from their friends on nights out in central Manchester. The slightly-built sex attacker, who described himself in court as an effeminate gay man, would strike up conversation and invite them to his nearby flat.
Sinaga (above) would prey on victims aged 18-36
His victims ranged from 18 to 36 but the average age was 21, Manchester Crown Court was told.
Most were students and some were still at school, including the sixth former whose escape from his vile clutches led to Sinaga being arrested.
Passing sentence, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said Sinaga was a dangerous offender who had committed evil crimes.
She added: ‘I’m not aware of any other case of sexual offending on this scale and magnitude. This was a campaign of rape which, in my judgement, justifies the highest of sentences.
‘One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending establishes that is an accurate description.’ She called Sinaga a ‘highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to release’ – also pointing out that he could have killed or seriously injured his victims by spiking their drinks.
She said she would have imposed a whole life term – a UK first for a case not involving murder – but for the fact that Sinaga did not torture his victims.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the investigation was the largest rape case it had ever handled.
Mr Rushton said: ‘His extreme sense of sexual entitlement almost defies belief and he would no doubt still be adding to his staggering tally had he not been caught. He used victims as objects purely for his own gratification.’
Sinaga, who came to Manchester as a student funded by his wealthy Indonesian family, boasted to friends about using ‘black magic potion’ and ‘secret poison’ to have sex with straight men.
He denied all the offences, claiming his victims had agreed to play dead during sex in a 50 Shades of Grey fantasy.
Sinaga had two degrees from Manchester University and was taking a PhD in geography at Leeds University at the time of his arrest in June 2017. Although raised a Catholic, he attended a liberal Anglican church close to his flat.
The court heard that Sinaga’s victims had suffered ‘deep and lasting psychological harm’. Two of the men attempted suicide, while others told how the trauma of what happened had ruined their lives and forced them to take to drink.
Nazir Afzal, a former North West chief crown prosecutor, said law enforcement agencies were being ‘overly reactive’.
He added: ‘They wait for brave victims to come forward. They don’t look for patterns, join the dots or assume the worst.
‘It’s better that we presume that predators exist in every environment and go looking for them.’
Greater Manchester Police urged other potential victims of Sinaga or anyone requiring support to come forward.
Source: Read Full Article