An 18-year-old rugby player has revealed how he helped to stop the world's most prolific serial rapist after he woke up while being molested and fought him off - before giving police a phone filled with sickening footage of the man's attacks.

Reynhard Sinaga, 36, is believed to have attacked at least 195 men and was convicted of drugging 48 of them and filming himself sexually violating them while they were unconscious in his Manchester flat.

The gay Christian student was jailed for 60 years and must serve a minimum of 30 years in custody before he can be considered for parole.

He was finally caught when one of his victims regained consciousness on the bathroom floor and fought him off before he went to the police and crucially handed in Sinaga's phone.

The six-foot tall, 13-stone teenager told the court how he woke up with his trousers around his ankles with Sinaga molesting him.

He battered the rapist, beating him so badly he suffered a bleed on the brain and had to be taken to hospital.

Initially the 18-year-old victim was mistakenly arrested for assault, but Sinaga left an iPhone 4 in his back pocket which contained sickening videos of him raping drugged men.

Police have linked Reynhard Sinaga to more than 190 potential victims in total - 70 of whom they have not yet been able to identify

Officers searching Sinaga's flat found another mobile 'propped to side' to capture rapes 'in profile' and also found a hard drive containing a chilling online library of videos of the rapes plus still images of the victims as they lay naked and unconscious on his floor.

They also discovered Sinaga, 36, had looked victims up on Facebook and stored their details.

He further kept victims' belongings as sick souvenirs of the encounters, including a phone, watch, driving licence and a restaurant Tastecard.

Police inquiries began after the 18-year old man, who had been to the nearby Factory club on June 2, 2017, became separated from his friends and was approached by Sinaga outside.

Sinaga suggested the man should try contacting his friends from his flat.

The rugby player said Sinaga 'seemed like a friendly guy' so he agreed to go back with him.

He added that he remembered the rapist pouring two shots of 'red liquid' and a 'shot of clear liquid' before he 'blacked out' and woke hours later and found himself being assualted.

A map of Manchester city centre shows where Sinaga's flat (in red) is located along with the nightclubs Factory and Fifth Avenue, which many of the complainants had earlier been to

The victim told jurors: 'I had to defend myself to get out of there.'

In a 999 call, the victim said: 'I tried to push him away. I've got blood on me because I tried to hit him to get away from me.

'He's trapped me in his house for most of the night. I've had to, I know it's violent, but I've had to hit him a few time just to, to stop him from attacking me, been on top me.

'I've had to. I've got blood on my hand if you want to see? Cut, I think he might be busted so, if you have to you might have to phone an ambulance 'cause I've, I've had to hit him a few times to get him away from me.'

Iain Simpkin, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant suggested he should try to contact his friends from the nearby flat. The complainant agreed but can recall nothing else at all, until he woke up several hours later.

'As he awoke he was lying face down with his jeans and boxer shorts around his knees with the naked defendant in the act of sexually attacking him. The complainant pushed Sinaga off him and once the defendant realised he was conscious he started to scream words like, 'intruder' and, 'help'.

'I want him to suffer for what he has done': Victims respond to the rapist's crimes A series of harrowing statements from different victims in the case of Reynhard Sinaga were given. Some victims told how their life had changed 'forever', while others said they wanted him to 'spend the rest of his life in prison'. A third has 'periods where I can't get up and face the day'. Here is what the victims said as they responded to the rapist's crimes: 'I felt numb; I was totally shocked, embarrassed, betrayed and very angry.'

'His actions were disgusting, unforgiveable, he has massively abused my trust in humanity.'

'The events of the night have a lasting impact on me, it affects my confidence in being able to trust people or to approach people in a normal public setting.'

'I was very anxious giving evidence, it was very traumatic for me because I knew I had to face up to reality of what had happened. I also knew I was going to get asked questions that would make the night a reality and that would haunt me.'

'I want Sinaga to spend the rest of his life in prison. Not only for what he has done to me but for what he has done to the other lads and the misery and stress he has caused them.'

'I remember the day the police contacted me, it is a day I will never forget because it changed my life forever.'

'I could recall the events of the evening the police were talking about but had no memory of any offences committed against me due to a complete lack of memory.'

'I know I have the support I need in place to help me no matter how long it takes.'

'I would like to thank the police, they couldn't have dealt with me any better.'

'I want Reyhnard Sinaga to suffer for what he has done to me and the other victims.'

'I don't think I will ever be OK with what has happened.'

'I have had the support of my ISVA from St. Mary's and I really could not have got through it without her. I have periods where I can't get up and face the day.'

'I wish the worse for him, I want him to feel the pain and sufferance I have felt. He has destroyed a part of my life.'

'No prison sentence is long enough for what he did to me.'

'I would like Sinaga to get an indefinite prison sentence because it has had such a big effect not only on my life but my friends and family and the other victims.'

'I have never been in such a bad place in my life and I didn't know how to get out of it. I was diagnosed with severe depression and put on anti-depressants, I also started counselling.'

'I will never forget the day the Police attended my home address. I did not know why they needed to see me, but I was devastated when I was told that I had been a victim of serious sexual offences, also that I have been drugged and the appalling sexual act was filmed.'

'I hope he never comes out of Prison and he rots in hell.'

'This assault has had a serious impact on my mental health and my relationships.'

'The perpetrator has taken a part of me that I will never get back, and deserves the largest sentence possible.'

'I will never forget the day the Police came to see me, I did not know why they needed to see me but I can say I was absolutely devastated to hear that I had been a victim of rape, after being drugged and this sexual act was filmed by a man, I now know to be Sinaga.' Advertisement

'What followed next was a fight with the defendant repeatedly biting the complainant and the complainant striking the defendant several times. Ultimately, the complainant managed to escape from the flat and once outside contacted the Police.

'Sinaga was stretchered out of his flat by the paramedics, and at this stage, the complainant was initially arrested and interviewed for assault. But it soon became clear to the police that it was he who was the complainant and in due course Sinaga was arrested.

'All of the complainants were either inside or near to one of the night spots and all have suffered varying degrees of memory loss.

'Almost none of the men who the police had tracked were even aware they had been involved in a sexual interaction with the defendant.'

Police have linked Sinaga to 195 potential victims - 70 of whom they have not yet been able to identify. He went out in the early hours of the morning, hunting for lone, drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat.

Sinaga was jailed today for 159 offences committed from January 2015 to May 2017, with details of his horrific crimes finally revealed as it emerged that:

Police have appealed for more potential victims to come forward amid fears Sanaga could have been active for more than a decade

Prosecutors had to hold four separate trials due to the sheer number of victims involved

His wealthy Indonesian parents bankrolled his ten years of study in the UK

Police had to wade through the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper to bring Sanaga to justice

The slightly-built Indonesian student posed as a Good Samaritan who offered them a floor to sleep on or promised them more drink, Manchester Crown Court heard.

His victims - who were mainly heterosexual - had little or no memory of the hours that followed as Sinaga filmed the assaults on his mobile phone, and they later left the apartment unaware they had been violated.

Sinaga - who was condemned for showing no remorse - was born into a relatively wealthy family in Indonesia and arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2007 financed by his parents, before studying at Manchester and Leeds universities.

Police believe his offending could stretch back well over ten years, but Sinaga was convicted of 159 offences committed from January 2015 to May 2017 across four separate trials - with the case split up due to the number of victims involved.

Sinaga is believed to now be world's worst convicted rapist ahead of Joji Obara, 67, from Japan, who is known in the UK for killing British flight attendant Lucie Blackman in 2000 and is thought to have raped between 150 and 400 women.

Sinaga claimed many of the victims appeared to be asleep as they 'were playing dead' as he has sex with them.

Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told the court his total number of potential victims was 195.

Sentencing, she told Sinaga: 'You are an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men who came into the city centre wanting nothing more than a good night-out with their friends.

'One of your victims described you as a monster.

'The scale and enormity of your offending confirms this as an accurate description.'

The judge continued: 'Rarely, if ever, have the courts seen such a campaign of rape as this, covering so many victims over a prolonged period.'

She said the true scale of Sinaga's offending may never be known but that police appeared to have established 195 men were filmed by the defendant while unconscious.

Judge Goddard went on: 'It is ironic that were it not for the films that you took of your evil crimes it seems that most of these offences would not have even been discovered, let alone prosecuted.

'Your actions show you as a dangerous individual with no sense of reality.

'In my judgment you are a highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released.

'That is for the Parole Board.'

Sinaga had shown 'not a jot of remorse', she continued, and noted at times he appeared to be 'actually enjoying the trial process'.

Details of the case - the UK's largest ever rape prosecution - can be made public today after reporting restrictions were lifted following the end of four trials.

Sinaga hunted for drunk young men around nightclubs near his flat in Manchester (above)

Spirit bottles at Sinaga's flat are pictured. He is thought to have drugged the men when giving them a drink from his selection of alcohol

How police trawled through the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Zed Ali, of Greater Manchester Police, said Sinaga's prosecution follows a long and complex investigation by his team. Detectives had to examine hours and hours of graphic and disturbing photographs and videos taken by Sinaga. In total they trawled through 3.29 terabytes of information – the equivalent of three miles of lorries filled with A4 paper. Officers also had the unfortunate task of knocking on doors to explain to victims that they believed they had been targeted by the rapist. All were devastated by the revelation. Many of the men were traced using Facebook profiles, wallets, and identity cards which Sinaga stole from his victims and kept in a box by his bed. Advertisement

The Crown Prosecution Service was forced to split the prosecution into four separate trials of 10 to 13 victims such were the numbers involved in the case.

Sinaga claimed the men consented to being recorded playing a sex game in which they pretended to be dead to fulfil his fantasies - a defence labelled 'preposterous' by prosecutor Iain Simkin as jurors saw footage of some victims snoring.

He was found guilty of a total of 159 offences committed between January 2015 and May 2017 - 136 counts of rape, 13 counts of sexual assault, eight counts of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

Many of the complainants had earlier been to the city centre nightclubs Factory and Fifth Avenue.

Sinaga's apartment, situated next to Factory in Princess Street, provided a perfect vantage point from which to identify his targets.

The court heard that none of the victims - many in their late teens or early 20s - wanted to know details of what had happened to them when traced by police and some have chosen not to tell their family or close friends of the trauma.

A large part of Sinaga's offending took place in the bedroom but some did take place in the living room. The final victim was raped in the bathroom before he woke up during the ordeal

The living room at the home of Sinaga, who has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court for life

The front door and the hallway at the home of Sinaga, who has been jailed for life, is pictured

Sinaga (left) claimed the men consented to being recorded playing a sex game in which they pretended to be dead to fulfil his fantasies at his flat (right, where blood was seen on the door)

Sinaga tested negative for HIV after he was arrested.

Jurors had to watch the mobile phone footage as Sinaga persisted with his defence and all were later uniquely offered counselling.

'A dangerous individual with no sense of reality': Judge's sentencing comments Sentencing, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told Sinaga: 'You are an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men who came into the city centre wanting nothing more than a good night-out with their friends. 'One of your victims described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending confirms this as an accurate description. 'Rarely, if ever, have the courts seen such a campaign of rape as this, covering so many victims over a prolonged period. 'It is ironic that were it not for the films that you took of your evil crimes it seems that most of these offences would not have even been discovered, let alone prosecuted. 'Your actions show you as a dangerous individual with no sense of reality. 'In my judgment you are a highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released. That is for the Parole Board.' Advertisement

Last June, Sinaga was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years for the convictions from his first two trials.

Reporting restrictions were put in place to avoid prejudice to subsequent trials and to avoid the possibility of potential victims and witnesses being deterred from giving evidence or coming forward.

A number of personal statements were read out in court from victims of offences which Sinaga was convicted of in the third and fourth trials.

One said: 'That night was just like any night out with my mates. What I didn't know was that there was a monster lurking in the background waiting to take advantage of my drunken state.

'I want Sinaga to acknowledge what he has done to me and show some remorse but I doubt that will ever happen.'

Another victim said: 'I genuinely thought he had helped me. How wrong could I be?

'The day I gave evidence was the hardest day of my life. I have a message to you, Sinaga. I am not going to let your ruin my life. I am going to fulfil my career plans and live a happy, content life.'

Prosecutor Iain Simkin told the court today that a common feature of many of the victims was the defendant's search for their social media details and that he was 'collating or cataloguing his victims in some way'.

The collection 'greatly assisted' the police in identifying the victims, he said.

He added that Sinaga bragged about one of his victims to a friend in a phone conversation and paraphrased the Little Mix song Black Magic.

He said: 'Take a sip of my secret potion, I'll make you fall in love.'

Richard Littler QC, defending Sinaga, submitted that the legal authorities did not support the passing of a whole life sentence in his client's case.

Timeline of Reynhard Sinaga's sexual assaults January 2015 to May 2017: The period over which Reynhard Sinaga was said to have committed sex assaults against 48 men in Manchester June 1 to July 10, 2018: Sinaga goes on his first trial which sees him convicted of 31 counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape and six counts of sexual assault. April 1 to May 7, 2019: Sinaga goes on trial for the second time and is convicted of 49 counts of rape, five counts of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault. He is jailed for 20 years after the first two trials. September 16 to October 4, 2019: Sinaga goes on his third trial and is convicted of 26 counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and five counts of sexual assault. December 2, 2019 and December 20, 2019: Sinaga goes on his fourth trial and is convicted of 30 counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. Today: Sinaga is jailed for at least 30 years over the third and fourth trials. In total, he was found guilty across all four trials of 159 offences - 136 rapes, eight attempted rapes, 14 sexual assaults, and one by penetration. Advertisement

He said this was not a mandatory life sentence case and that the Court of Appeal has never imposed a whole life order for a discretionary life sentence and, to date, whole life terms had not been passed in non-homicide cases.

Mr Littler said: 'This was a carefully executed sex crime by a defendant where the victims were targeted, tricked, drugged and all, it would appear, oblivious to the sex acts inside the flat.

'This could be accurately described as an evil crime but in fact it cannot accurately be described as a violent crime.'

Mr Littler said 36-year-old Sinaga would no longer have the ability to commit such age-specific offences when released.

Ian Rushton, North West Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: 'Reynhard Sinaga is the most prolific rapist in British legal history.

'His extreme sense of sexual entitlement almost defies belief and he would no doubt still be adding to his staggering tally had he not been caught.

'Sinaga's unthreatening demeanour duped these young men - many of whom thanked him for his kindness in offering them a place to stay - into thinking this monster was a Good Samaritan.

'But once back at his flat he used victims as objects purely for his own gratification - then appears to have derived further twisted pleasure from re-watching his films in court and putting victims through the trauma of giving evidence.'

Reacting to Sinaga's sentencing, Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked for a review of whether controls of drugs such as GHB, which is currently class C, were 'tough enough'.

Sinaga's iPhone 4 (left) and iPhone 6 Plus (right) are pictured in CPS evidence photos

Sinaga (centre) is pictured in a sketch of him appearing at Manchester Crown Court today

BREAKDOWN OF OFFENCES REYNHARD SINAGA HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF Number of victims Rape Attempt Rape Assault by Penetration Sexual Assault Total Trial 1 12 31 3 0 6 40 Trial 2 13 49 5 1 0 55 Trial 3 10 26 0 1 5 32 Trial 4 13 30 0 0 2 32 TOTAL 48 136 8 2 13 159

Home Secretary calls for urgent review into GHB controls Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) has called for an urgent review into whether more stringent controls are needed for date rape drugs such as GHB. The Conservative minister urged the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to expedite a review into whether current controls are tough enough. Her intervention comes following the sentencing of serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga to at least 30 years in jail after he was convicted of offences against 48 men. It is thought he laced alcoholic drinks with a drug such as Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as liquid ecstasy. The powerful depressant is a class C drug that is unlawful to possess for yourself or supply - except under a Home Office licence. Because of its potency, it has become a tool to spike drinks and has been linked to rapes and other sexual assaults. Ms Patel said: 'Sinaga committed truly sickening crimes and it is right that he has been sentenced to life imprisonment. 'I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his victims and my gratitude to the police and prosecutors who worked on this case and put him behind bars. 'I'm deeply concerned by the use of illegal drugs like GHB to perpetrate these crimes and have asked the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to expedite a review looking at whether our controls for these drugs are tough enough.' GHB is used recreationally to reduce inhibitions, produce feelings of euphoria and increase the intensity of sex. But the risks are high, because the difference between the amount that will achieve the desired effects and overdosing is very small. This can lead to unconsciousness, coma and death. It does not always have a noticeable taste or smell, but can taste salty, and is particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other depressants and sedatives. Advertisement

She said: 'Sinaga committed truly sickening crimes and it is right that he has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

'I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his victims and my gratitude to the police and prosecutors who worked on this case and put him behind bars.

'I'm deeply concerned by the use of illegal drugs like GHB to perpetrate these crimes and have asked the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to expedite a review looking at whether our controls for these drugs are tough enough.'

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: 'We pay tribute to the courage of those who have testified in these cases and the painstaking work of Greater Manchester Police in bringing this monster to justice.

'Support is available for anyone who is affected by the issues raised in this case.

'While it's deeply shocking that these crimes happened in our city, their long shadow should not distort perceptions of Manchester.

'Tens of thousands of people safely enjoy the city's famous nightlife every week.

'These were the actions of one depraved predator acting in isolation - they do not reflect or represent any gender, race, religion, sexuality or community.'

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police say they are keen to speak to about 70 of the potential victims who have not yet been identified from Sinaga's videos to ensure they have any support needed.

Earlier, Judge Goddard said police had established there are 195 different males who appear to be unconscious while Sinaga sexually assaulted them on film.

Bev Hughes, Greater Manchester's Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice, said: 'The police, St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Survivors Manchester, Victim Support, the National Probation Service and other partner agencies have worked together to provide victims and survivors with the best possible support throughout the trials.

'I also want to echo GMP's appeal for further victims of Sinaga to come forward, so we can ensure they get the support they need.

'I also want to urge anyone who has been a victim of any rape or sexual assault to come forward and report it to police, confident that they will receive the help and support they need.

'Greater Manchester is a resilient place. We have undergone traumas in the past and, together, come through them. Sinaga is an appalling individual, who acted alone and is now off our streets.

Jurors had to watch the mobile phone footage as Sinaga persisted with his defence and all were later uniquely offered counselling

'He is in no way representative of our city-region and people should not be fearful of enjoying all that Manchester city centre has to offer.'

Sinaga acted as Good Samaritan before attacking victims Manipulative serial rapist Reynhard Sinaga convinced many of his victims he had done them a favour by offering them a floor to sleep on for the night. From the vantage point of his Manchester city centre apartment, he targeted lone young men who were worse for wear from alcohol after being separated from friends or on their way home. None of his victims suspected the malevolent intentions of the 36-year-old mature student as he approached them in the street. And none of his victims felt intimidated by Sinaga - slight in stature and friendly by appearance. One said Sinaga was 'really nice' and 'looked after him' after he lost his friends and his phone battery had ran out. Another thought the defendant had acted as a Good Samaritan after Sinaga said he looked after him when he found him lying on the ground near a hotel. Manchester Crown Court heard one complainant was sitting on the kerbside after the battery on his mobile phone was drained and he was approached by Sinaga. The defendant invited him to his apartment to charge the device but instead went on to drug and sexually violate him on camera. He too believed Sinaga had acted as a Good Samaritan and was grateful before he eventually learned the full horror of what had happened to him when the police called. A third man fell victim to Sinaga's phone charge ruse as he attempted to flag down a taxi when he was unable to order an Uber journey. Several of his victims felt guilty when they awoke the next day for troubling a stranger who they thought had provided them with somewhere to stay or for being sick in his flat. Others felt they had undergone a 'weird experience' but none had any real concerns or suspicions, with one complainant telling the court: 'I thought briefly he might have done something, but I thought stuff like that doesn't happen.' None of the victims, of whom 45 were heterosexual and 26 were students, when contacted by the police wanted to know the detail of what happened to them. Two attempted to commit suicide as a result of severe depression. Advertisement

Specialist police officers and victim support services are on standby to hear from anyone who believes Sinaga may have approached them on a night out.

Greater Manchester Police established there may be at least 190 potential victims of Sinaga, but of that figure they were unable to identify 70 of those individuals.

And it is suspected the serial rapist may have committed offences elsewhere in the city as images from some video clips recovered from his phone did not match the Manchester city centre address where he lived when he was arrested.

Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said: 'My first appeal would be to anybody who may think they have had contact with Reynhard Sinaga, the circumstances as reported have brought back some memories and they suspect they have been on a night out and met somebody like Reynhard Sinaga to contact the police.

'We have specialist officers waiting, we have a helpline where the numbers are available and we are working with specialist victim support services including St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Survivors Manchester and Victims' Services.

'At the forefront of this investigation and our primary objective throughout has been to provide the support to the victims and I would encourage them to come forward. We have the specialist services to provide that support.'

He went on: 'We believe Reynhard Sinaga is the UK's most prolific rapist and the reason I say that is because on the information and evidence we suspect there are in total 190 victims approximately who have been involved.

'We can't give you a definitive figure for obvious reasons. Forty-eight of them have supported a criminal prosecution.

'Of that 190 there are approximately 70 that we are still yet to identify and the reason we have still yet to identify them is despite our best efforts, and the investigation team working tirelessly to piece together the information, we have been unable to identify who each individual is to speak to them. There is still some work for us to do.'

He said officers had undertaken a 'very very difficult' investigation with almost three terabytes of data pored over - the equivalent of watching 1,500 DVD films.

Mr Hussain explained: 'One of my officers described it as like putting together a jigsaw without the picture because it was not apparent which parts were from which offence.

'Each visit to each of these victims has had to be carefully and meticulously planned, and their welfare and wellbeing was at the forefront of our mind in dealing with the victims.'

The Factory club in Manchester where Sinaga watched and picked up men that he later raped

Fifth nightclub in Manchester where Sinaga watched and picked up men that he later raped

He said Sinaga was a 'depraved sexual predator' who had taken advantage of trusting young men, but he added: 'I think we need to concentrate less on Reynhard Sinaga as an individual and focus much more on each individual victim who has either supported the prosecution or provided evidence and information.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Sinaga should contact Greater Manchester Police or specialist support agencies on: - Support Line: 0800 056 0154 (calls made from within the UK)/0207 158 0011 (international calls) - Police Line: 0800 092 0410 (calls made from within the UK)/0207 158 0124 (international calls) Reports relating to Reyhard Sinaga can also be made online via the major incident public portal by clicking here Advertisement

'I cannot begin to imagine what they have had to endure, what they have had to go through and what they are still living with today.'

In a statement, the Diocese of Manchester said: 'Reynhard Sinaga is guilty of the most appalling crimes. We utterly condemn his actions and our thoughts and prayers today go out to his victims.

'Clergy, and others in our churches who work with those affected by abuse, are ready to offer support to any affected by these horrific revelations.

'We can confirm that Reynhard Sinaga did worship occasionally at a city centre church and it appears that nobody who came into contact with him had any inkling of his crimes.'

'Cunning rapist' worked on thesis about gay and bisexual men in Manchester

Churchgoer Reynhard Sinaga lived in Manchester city centre for more than a decade while studying various university courses.

A gay man who looks younger than his age of 36, he chose to live close to the gay village and the Canal Street area where attitudes to homosexuality were very different than in his home nation of Indonesia.

Sinaga is said to have had a small, close-knit group of friends who believed him to be friendly and good-natured.

Specialist police officers and victim support services are on standby to hear from anyone who believes Sinaga (pictured) may have approached them on a night out

Born in the Jambi province of Indonesia into a relatively wealthy family, Sinaga arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2007 financed by his parents and remained in the country on those terms for the next 10 years.

Sinaga graduated from the University of Manchester in 2009 with an MSc degree in Planning and again in 2011 with an MA degree in Sociology.

No concerns of a sexual nature, or of any other matters, were ever raised with the university, confirmed officials.

From 2012 he commuted monthly to the University of Leeds as part of his studies for a PhD.

Sinaga attended regular supervision meetings to help with his thesis entitled 'Sexuality and everyday transnationalism. South Asian gay and bisexual men in Manchester'.

The university said he did not appear to spend much time in the city, other than for the monthly supervision sessions, and did not take an active part in research groups or societies.

In June 2017 he was suspended immediately after his arrest and his student status was officially rescinded following conviction.

Greater Manchester Police said there is no indication that his research was used as a basis for his crimes.

During a previous sentencing hearing the court received references from Sinaga's mother and sister but Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said both knew nothing of 'the cold, cunning and calculated rapist'.

A character testament was also received from St Chrysostom's Church, in Victoria Park, Manchester - an Anglican church of the Catholic tradition - where Sinaga had attended.

The judge said: 'It is almost beyond belief that someone who could profess some Christian faith could at the same time have been committing such wicked and evil crimes.'