A man suspected of committing more than 20 rapes and sexual assaults in Utrecht has gone on trial two decades after some of the offences happened.

Gerard T, from Nieuwegein, is charged with four rapes that took place in 1995, 1996 and 2001. Police believe he is responsible for 22 incidents in total but in many cases there was not enough evidence to take to court.

The 52-year-old was only linked to the rapes in the summer of 2014 after he stole a decoy bike, placed by police to catch bicycle thieves. He gave a DNA sample which matched the profile of the serial rapist in Utrecht.

Jan den Boer, of the Midden-Nederland police division, acknowledged that the progress of the case would be disappointing for many victims. “It means more uncertainty for the women whose complaints have not been included in the indictment,” he told NOS. “They’ll be wondering if the offence that they are victim of was committed by the same offender.”

Silence

T has maintained his silence throughout police interviews and court appearances and refused to co-operate with the Pieter Baan Centrum, which assesses criminal suspects for psychiatric treatment. Police even sent undercover agents into the prison in an attempt to lure T into talking about the offences, but without success.

The public prosecution office is expected to submit its sentencing demands on Tuesday.

Five of the alleged victims are attending the court hearing and following proceedings from a screened-off room to avoid contact with the media.