Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson visited a gay sauna in London in the very same year he described homosexuality as “sinful”, a BBC documentary has alleged. The disgraced politician was convicted last week of 18 sexual offences, including one count of rape, against two women when they were children.

A BBC NI Spotlight documentary, due to air tonight, will reveal how Donaldson was observed by two former policemen entering Chariots Sauna near the Houses of Parliament in 2006. The former head of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, Tim Hanley, told the broadcaster that he was “100 per cent sure” Donaldson entered the building, a claim corroborated by the second detective who was also present at the scene.

Whilst much of the conduct is not illegal it tells a story of a ‘double life’.

In the documentary, the former head of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, Tim Hanley said that he was “100 per cent sure” Donaldson entered the building, a claim corroborated by the second detective who was also present at the scene.

He added: “Somebody’s sexuality is their own business. But I think it’s the whole, if you like, history of the DUP.

“They were opposed to gay marriage, they’ve always had that angle, that bigotry towards members of the gay community and that’s where the shock came from, that there could be such a double standard.

“I found it incredible,” he said. It is believed that the BBC presented these allegations to Jeffrey Donaldson, however he failed to provide a response.

Donaldson has been warned he is facing a “lengthy” prison term following his conviction for the offences which spanned a period between 1985 and 2008.

The judge said a custodial sentence was inevitable, stating it would be “lengthy”.

The case has led to calls for the Police Ombudsman to probe what police knew in terms of disgraced former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.

The DUP on Friday announced it is commissioning an independent inquiry into revelations and who knew what.

BBC Spotlight reported that a police detective suspected that Donaldson could be a secret child abuser a year before he was named to police.

It reported that the detective and a child safeguarding expert suspected Donaldson following an exploratory meeting at the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s headquarters with Complainant A and her partner before they made a formal complaint.

Complainant A did not name her abuser in that meeting, and did not name Donaldson to police until 2024, however the programme heard how both believed the woman was describing Donaldson.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland have conducted a thorough investigation into non-recent sexual abuse allegations.

“As legal proceedings are ongoing, we will not be making any comment.”