Rapist assault accused refuses to appear in court

A second man accused of trying to attack the UK's most prolific rapist in prison has refused to appear in court again.

Andrew Beadie, 28, has been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Reynhard Sinaga at HMP Wakefield on 4 July 2023.

Mr Beadie was scheduled to appear before Leeds Magistrates' Court via video link on Tuesday but a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire told the court the defendant had refused to leave his cell.

Mr Beadie similarly declined to attend the same court via video link last month, when his co-accused in the case, Jack McRae, first appeared charged with the alleged offences.

The prison officer told the court he had spoken to Mr Beadie personally to persuade him to attend proceedings, but that he was "not in a good place" and had become "irate" with him. He had been expected to enter a plea to the charge.

The case was adjourned until Thursday 30 January.

McRae, who was also accused of attempted grievous bodily harm against Sinaga in HMP Wakefield, will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on 4 February.

Sinaga was jailed in 2020 after being convicted of drugging and raping 48 men in Manchester, although police said at the time they believed his real number of victims was much higher.

The Indonesian-born student would typically stalk his victims as they became separated from friends on nights out before leading them to his city centre flat and attacking them.

Sinaga will serve a minimum of 40 years in jail after his initial 30-year sentence was deemed too lenient by the Court of Appeal.

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