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'Catching a Predator': The shocking true story of Britain's biggest ever rape investigation

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 28/09/2021 - Programme Name: Catching a Predator - TX: n/a - Episode: Catching a Predator (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: DI Matt Gregory, DC Dorothy Orr & DS Kimberley Hames-Evans    - (C) Minnow Films - Photographer: Joel Goodman
Catching a Predator follows the UK's largest rape investigation. (Minnow Films)

Shocking true crime documentary Catching a Predator on BBC Two tells the story behind the investigation into Britain's largest ever rape case.

The crimes of Reynhard Sinaga shocked the nation when the extent of what he had done emerged - but police believe the true victim count could be even higher than originally thought.

Read more: Battered face of Britain's worst rapist after brave victim fought back

When is Catching a Predator on TV?

The true crime documentary Catching a Predator is a one-off film about the investigation into Reynhard Sinaga's crimes.

It will air on BBC Two on Wednesday, 6 October at 9pm and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer afterwards.

Who is Reynhard Sinaga?

A general view of the apartment Montana House next to the night club The Factory in Manchester. Reynhard Sinaga, 36, has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court for life and must serve a minimum of 30 years after he was convicted of offences against 48 men. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
Reynhard Sinaga lured men back to his flat. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Last year, Sinaga was prosecuted for 159 counts of rape and other sexual offences against 48 men, making him the UK's most prolific serial rapist.

The 38-year-old, originally from Indonesia, was living in Manchester as a mature student and studying for a PhD at Leeds University.

Read more: All the true crime dramas coming to TV in 2021

A committed Christian, Sinaga seemed to many to be an unlikely offender before he was caught, with the church even providing a character reference for him at his trial.

Sinaga first moved to the UK in 2007, but is now believed to have begun offending years before he arrived in the country.

What was the true story behind Catching a Predator?

Programme Name: Catching a Predator - TX: n/a - Episode: Catching a Predator (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: DC Dorothy Orr & DS Kimberley Hames-Evans   - (C) Minnow Films - Photographer: Joel Goodman
Greater Manchester Police worked tirelessly to build the case. (Minnow Films)

The BBC Two documentary looks at the horrifying case that saw the Crown Prosecution Service describe Sinaga as the most prolific rapist in British legal history.

Sinaga was prosecuted for 159 sex offences against 48 men, including 136 rapes of 44 men, but investigators believe that the true number of his victims may run to more than 200.

He would wait outside of Manchester nightclubs and pubs, where he would offer young men at the end of a night out a place to stay in his apartment.

Predator Sinaga then drugged and assaulted the men, some of them repeatedly, and even went as far as to boast about his crimes on WhatsApp.

Programme Name: Catching a Predator - TX: n/a - Episode: Catching a Predator (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Daniel  - (C) Minnow Films - Photographer: Minnow Films
Daniel bravely speaks out about being targeted by Sinaga. (Minnow Films)

Chillingly, he collected "trophies" from his victims which provided the evidence that there may have been more than 200 victims, many of whom had no idea that they had even been assaulted whilst drugged until police tracked them down.

It was one of the most shocking sexual assault cases the UK had ever seen, inflicting trauma on victims with no recollection of Sinaga, and the documentary shows how Greater Manchester Police pieced together evidence in their 2017 to 2019 investigation.

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One of Sinaga's victims has waived his right to anonymity to give a powerful testimony about male rape and the impact on his life.

Sinaga was believed to have been offending for a decade and in 2020 was given concurrent life sentences for his crimes with a minimum term of 40 years.

Watch: Reynhard Sinaga victim says 'I wish the worst for him'