Who is Mohammed Altaher and how long was he sentenced to for raping two men he met on Grindr?
MOHAMMED Altaher is a convicted rapist who sexually assaulted two men in Bedford.
His horrific crime is examined in 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Predator, which features exclusive interviews with the people who brought Altaher to justice.
Altaher’s terrible crime
Mohammed Altaher was living in Bedford and is known to have held a doctorate degree at the time of his crimes.
He was also a specialist in artificial intelligence.
However, unbeknownst to his neighbours, Altaher had committed a terrible crime.
In August and September 2019, he sexually assaulted two men whom he had met on the dating app Grindr.
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The first man had been given the illegal drug MCAT.
Speaking about the terrifying incident, the first man described how he didn’t see himself as a rape victim at first.
However, he opened up about withdrawing from his friends and colleagues as a result of the traumatic experience.
The second man that Altaher assaulted said that the incident had a significant impact on his mental health.
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He revealed that he was once “confident, healthy and outgoing” but had become reliant on “medication” to cope.
Altaher faces justice
After his arrest, Altaher faced a lengthy trial in court, in which the judge labelled him “narcissistic”.
He said: “You are also, however, an arrogant man – or to use the language of the probation officer, from which I do not dissent, ‘quite a narcissistic individual and very self-obsessed’.
“That was apparent when you gave evidence and indeed throughout the trial.
"You are either unwilling or unable to recognise the perspective of anyone but yourself. Your arrogance is the backdrop to this offending.
“What Dr Altaher wants, Dr Altaher gets, and if what you want is sexual intercourse, then the consent of whoever you want it with matters to you not at all.
"If you want it to happen, it shall happen.”
Altaher was convicted of two counts of raping a male over 16, as well as one count of sexual assault by penetration.
He was sentenced to ten years in September 2023.
Speaking after the incident, Detective Constable Kevin Cheese from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team (RASSO) said: “When it comes to sexual activity consent is crucial.
"Consent for sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time, and regardless if you initially consented to sex, it is still rape if consent is withdrawn and they continue.
“In this case, Altaher showed no care or compassion for the victims’ wishes, despite pleas to stop, and continued for his own sexual gratification.
“There is undoubtedly underreporting when it comes to male victims of sexual violence, as well as victims in the LGBT+ community, and we hope this episode helps demonstrate to victims that they will be believed.
“I want to thank both survivors in this case for coming forward and getting a dangerous predator like Altaher off the streets.
He added: “We will always be on the side of victims, regardless of gender, background or sexual orientation, and we will relentlessly pursue perpetrators of such crimes.
“It is never too late to come forward and report something that has happened to you.”
24 Hours In Police Custody
Altaher’s crime is explored in the Channel 4 documentary series 24 Hours In Police Custody.
The episode features exclusive interviews with the people who arrested Altaher.
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It originally aired on December 17, 2023, but viewers can watch it when it airs again on January 28, 2025, at 9pm.
Alternatively, watch the episode on Channel 4’s streaming service.