Smirking migrant who raped Grindr dates before claiming he was victim on 24 Hours in Police Custody is convicted for third time
A grinning immigrant who raped two men he met on gay dating site Grindr has been found guilty of rape for the third time.
41-year-old Iraqi citizen Mohammed Altaher and his crimes were featured in the ‘Predator’ episode of 24 Hour Police Surveillance.
In the hit Channel 4 programme, Altaher shamelessly tried to claim victimization during the investigation, claiming detectives subjected him to ‘degrading treatment’ because he was gay.
After the episode aired, a third victim came forward and reported that Altaher raped them in 2019.
He was found guilty of raping his third victim following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court on 8 April.
He was sentenced to a further seven years and five years’ imprisonment with extended license to run concurrently with the 10-year sentence he received for two previous convictions.
At his first hearing at St Albans Crown Court in 2023, a judge described him as ‘arrogant, narcissistic and self-obsessed’.
They added: ‘Whatever Dr Altaher wants, Dr Altaher gets, and if what you want is sexual intercourse, then the consent of the person you want it from is of no importance to you.’
Muhammad Altaher, a 41-year-old Iraqi citizen, grins as he describes his crimes in the ‘Predator’ episode of 24 Hour Police Surveillance.
Following a trial at Aylesbury Crown Court on 8 April, Altaher was found guilty of raping his third victim.
At the time, the court heard how Altaher continued his attacks and raped her ‘aggressively’ even after her consent was revoked.
The serial rapist carried out these two attacks in August and September 2019.
His first victim had been given the drug MCAT, an illegal stimulant, before being sexually assaulted. At one point, Altaher invited another man to the home to engage in sexual intercourse before leaving.
After this, the shower hose was inserted into the victim at least 10 times before she was raped. She suffered multiple injuries and revealed she had been assaulted at a sexual assault referral center in Brighton.
In the victim’s statement, the man said that at first he could not see himself as a rape victim. He said he wasn’t busy with work and was ‘like a zombie’.
As soon as the second victim arrived at his home, he was grabbed by Altaher, kissed and pushed onto the bed. He got on top of the victim and raped her.
Following the final hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court in Buckinghamshire, PC Heather Hutchinson, who worked on both investigations, said: ‘Altaher showed no care or compassion for his victims and I hope the conviction and sentence provides some sense of closure for those affected.
‘I want to pay tribute to the tremendous courage of the original victims who spoke out about their experiences, and the bravery shown by the victim who came forward after the program aired.
‘This bravery led directly to further evidence and holding a dangerous criminal accountable.
’24 Hour Police Surveillance’ not only plays a vital role in educating the public on issues such as consent, but also helps build public trust and gives victims the confidence to come forward.
‘Viewers can see that investigations are carried out with care, professionalism and persistence, and for those watching those silently carrying their own trauma, this can be a catalyst that gives them the strength to speak openly and seek help.’
