In a significant legal development, Mohammed Altaher, a 38-year-old resident of Cardington Road in Bedford, has been handed a 10-year prison sentence by St Albans Crown Court. Altaher’s conviction stems from his involvement in two separate incidents of rape and a sexual assault by penetration, all of which occurred in August and September 2019. The victims, whom he had met through the popular dating app Grindr, experienced traumatic ordeals at his hands.
Recorder Andrew Johnson, presiding over the case, did not mince words in describing Altaher. He characterized him as “arrogant, narcissistic, and self-obsessed,” emphasizing how Altaher’s audacious demeanor played a crucial role in his criminal conduct. Altaher’s insistence on being addressed as “Dr.” instead of “Mr.” during the trial underlined his sense of entitlement.
The judge further criticized Altaher for treating his victims as objects, disregarding their consent entirely. He noted, “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.”
Altaher’s first victim endured a harrowing encounter when he visited Altaher’s home for consensual sexual activity. Altaher’s aggression and disregard for consent resulted in severe injuries, leaving the victim traumatized. The survivor, in a victim impact statement, highlighted the profound impact on his mental health and daily life, expressing the need for closure to rebuild his life.
The second victim, while at Altaher’s residence, faced similar horrors. Encouraged to take Mcat (mephedrone), he initially engaged in consensual sex. However, when he began to feel unwell, Altaher violently assaulted him before committing rape. It took the second victim a couple of months to report the incident to the police.
Detective Constable Kevin Cheese from Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team (RASSO) lauded both survivors for their courage in exposing the actions of a “dangerous predator like Altaher.” He stressed that regardless of the circumstances and where individuals meet, consent for sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of consent and the need for accountability in cases of sexual assault within the LGBTQ+ community, specifically highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by individuals using dating apps like Grindr.