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Two of Britain’s most notorious rapists, Joseph McCann and Reynhard Sinaga, have had their minimum jail terms increased from 30 to 40 years by the appeals court.
However, the five-judge panel refused to impose life sentences on Sinaga, 37, and McCann, 35, as requested by attorney general Michael Ellis QC at a hearing in October.
Both men initially received minimum 30-year sentences, but appeals court attorneys had lobbied for life sentences, arguing that both had caused an “ocean of harm.”
Sinaga, an Indonesian graduate student, was convicted in four trials of drugging and raping 48 young men whom he had lured to his Manchester apartment on the pretext of being a “good Samaritan”.
Later, the Greater Manchester Police said they had proof that he had assaulted at least 195 men, making him the worst rapist in Britain. He had filmed the attacks, taken photographs of his comatose victims and preserved “mementos” such as wallets, watches and mobile phones.
In December last year, McCann, of London, was found guilty of all 37 counts related to a fifteen-day rampage in 2019 that spread from London to Cheshire. He raped eight victims, including a 71-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy. The boy and his teenage sister were attacked facing each other in their own home.
Issuing the court’s ruling on Friday, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said: “The infringement in the McCann and Sinaga cases, however serious, does not require, in our judgment, that either of the two receive a lifetime rate.
“This is not to minimize the seriousness of your crime, but to ensure that the most severe sentence is reserved in our jurisdiction, except exceptionally, either for the most serious cases involving death, or when a substantive plan for a murder of similar severity is interrupted near compliance. “
The judge said the men’s minimum terms would be increased to reflect the severity of their crimes.
Burnett said that in the collective experience of the senior judges who heard the case, the crimes of McCann and Sinaga were some of the most serious rape offenses ever tried in England and Wales.
“Neither has shown any remorse and the long-term psychological damage to at least some of the victims in both trials is profound and will only be understood in the next few years,” he said.
The release of both men would depend on the Parole Board’s assessments of the risk they posed after they have served their minimum jail terms, he said.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Deputy Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said the force welcomed the ruling: “In speaking to many of their victims, we know that many will be comforted by this outcome and feel that the Extension reflects the heinous nature of the crimes committed.
“At the very heart of this case have always been the victims and their support during their ordeal. The bravery these men continue to show has been incredible and we, along with partners like St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Center and Survivors Manchester, will continue to offer all possible support to victims and assist them in every way. may.”
GMP said they now believe Sinaga had sexually assaulted at least 206 men.
When he was convicted in January, GMP said they believed there were 195 different victims, of whom 70 had not been identified. Following his conviction, GMP received 154 new reports related to Sinaga, including 23 victims. Twelve of them were among the 70 that the police could not previously identify from the films and photos, and 11 were so far unknown.
Hussain said: “Like many other victims, most of these men had been enjoying nights out in Manchester city center before being attacked by Sinaga on their way home. We continue to offer these men our full support and help them in whatever way we can. “
The force said it still had about 60 uncounted victims and urged anyone with information to contact the police or specialized support services.
