Hunting Bedroom Predators – the dark side of the internet
The internet: a space where victims are vulnerable and offenders feel untouchable
The internet: a space where victims are vulnerable and offenders feel untouchable
Not long ago, the internet symbolised freedom. Today, it increasingly resembles a minefield. Behind a smartphone screen, within what seems like an innocent chat, someone may be watching. Hunting. Ruthless. Methodical. Without empathy.
Hunting Bedroom Predators, coming this May to Viasat True Crime, reveals this brutal truth without filters. This is not just another documentary, it is a reconstruction of real-life nightmares.
Airs: Monday 4 May to Wednesday 6 May, 22:10 CET, exclusively on Viasat True Crime
You are not anonymous. Neither are they.
These are exceptionally challenging times. We live online, we work, talk, fall in love. But alongside us are individuals who exploit every weakness.
Cybercrime is growing at an alarming rate:
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation
- Emotional and sexual blackmail (sextortion)
- Identity theft and data breaches
- Financial scams and fraud
- Cyberstalking and harassment
- Trafficking illegal content on the dark web
These are not isolated incidents. This is a global epidemic.
And while many perpetrators believe they are invisible, the truth is stark: no one is truly anonymous online. Everyone leaves a trace. Everyone can be found. It’s only a matter of time.
Elite investigators vs the worst offenders
The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to case files and materials from the National Crime Agency, the UK’s leading authority in tackling serious and organised crime.
The result? Three cases that shock to the core.
Matthew Falder – the double life of a predator
On the surface, an educated academic, a Cambridge graduate. In reality, one of the most prolific online sexual offenders in history.
Matthew Falder created a digital hell for his victims. Operating under the alias “666Devil”, he posed as a woman, manipulated his targets, then blackmailed them into degrading and abusive acts.
- Over 14,000 images and 1,251 videos involving children
- 137 charges relating to 46 victims
- Sentenced to 25 years in prison
He believed he would never be caught.
He was wrong.
Upon arrest, he admitted: “It sounds like the rap sheet from hell.”
Anthony Burns – master of manipulation and digital terror
A new breed of predator. No real face. No true identity. Just a screen and words.
Anthony Burns operated as a “catfish”, posing as a wealthy, attractive man. He seduced victims, then trapped them in a cycle of blackmail, threats and control.
Hundreds of thousands of abusive files. Hundreds of lives shattered.
His victims lived in constant fear, convinced he was beyond the reach of the law, that a single click could destroy their lives.
They were wrong.
- 44 charges admitted by the offender
- Sentenced to 24 years in prison
Abdul Elahi – a factory of suffering
If there is a bottom, Abdul Elahi went beyond it.
He was not just a criminal, he industrialised abuse.
Elahi created so-called “box sets”, collections of recorded abuse, which he sold to other predators. He earned tens of thousands of pounds a year.
During questioning, he admitted coldly:
“Hundreds, maybe thousands of victims.”
- 158 offences, a record in UK courts
- 74 identified victims worldwide
- Sentenced to 40 years in prison
The line between online and real life no longer existed, his actions led to real, physical consequences, including direct acts of violence and abuse.
This could happen to anyone. Literally anyone
The most terrifying part? The victims were not “different”. They were ordinary people:
- Teenagers seeking acceptance
- Women looking for love
- Individuals facing financial hardship
Predators do not choose randomly. They analyse. They hunt. They strike where you are most vulnerable.
Why this documentary matters
Because it shows the truth. Not the comfortable version. Not the censored one.
It reveals:
- How easy it is to become a victim
- How sophisticated offenders are
- How difficult it is to escape
And it reminds us of something crucial:
The internet does not forget. The internet does not forgive. The internet is always watching.
FAQ – frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Hunting Bedroom Predators?
On Viasat True Crime from 4 to 6 May at 22:10 CET.
Are the stories real?
Yes, they are based on real investigations conducted by the National Crime Agency.
Is the show disturbing?
Yes, but not because of graphic scenes. It is disturbing because it is real. It exposes genuine cases, manipulation tactics, and the scale of threats happening right now.
Who was Matthew Falder?
One of the most prolific online sexual offenders in history.
Do these threats exist across Europe?
Yes. The internet has no borders, this is a global threat.
How can I report online crime?
You can report quickly and, in many cases, anonymously through trusted organisations:
- How easy it is to become a victim
- How sophisticated offenders are
- How difficult it is to escape
- Local police or emergency number 112 (EU-wide)
- Europol, via national reporting channels coordinated across Europe
- Internet Watch Foundation, report child sexual abuse content: https://www.iwf.org.uk
- INHOPE, international network of hotlines: https://www.inhope.org
Remember: every report matters and can help stop an offender.
Watch and don’t ignore the warning signs
Hunting Bedroom Predators is more than a documentary. It is a warning.
A stark reminder that the line between safety and danger has never been thinner.
And that while evil can hide behind a screen, justice will eventually catch up.
Premiere: 4–6 May, 22:10 CET, Viasat True Crime
