Mohammed Altaher

Mohammed Altaher, residing on Cardington Road in Bedford, was convicted of raping two men in separate incidents that occurred in August and September 2019. The attacks came to light through the Channel 4 documentary series 24 Hours in Police Custody, which first aired in December 2023 and was repeated on 27 January 2025. The episode details the police investigation into Altaher's actions, highlighting the brutality of the offences committed via the dating app Grindr.

In the first incident, Altaher met his victim through Grindr and initially engaged in consensual activity. However, he became aggressive when the victim withdrew consent, leading to a violent rape that caused multiple injuries to the victim. The second victim also met Altaher on the app and initially consented to sexual activity but began feeling unwell during the encounter. Despite this, Altaher continued, violently sexually assaulting the victim in the bathroom before raping him. Both victims reported the incidents to the police independently, which helped build the case against Altaher.

Altaher was found guilty following a trial, and sentencing was carried out by his honour Recorder Johnson. The judge remarked: "Your approach to both of those encounters was to treat both of your victims as objects with whom you could do what you wished, when you wished, as you wished." This statement underscores the predatory nature of Altaher's behaviour, treating the victims as mere objects for his gratification. The case was investigated by Bedfordshire Police, as indicated by the location and context of the offences in Bedford.

The documentary provides an in-depth look at the custody process and the evidence gathered, including victim statements and forensic details, which led to Altaher's conviction. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals exploiting dating platforms for violent sexual offences.