Key Takeaways
- Two men, Rahmad Khan Mohammadi and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, have been jailed for a combined eight-and-a-half years for using the gay dating app Grindr to target victims in a series of burglaries and frauds.
- The pair stole phones, passports, and wallets in 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds, totaling £68,000 over six months.
- The victims were targeted because they were perceived as vulnerable due to their use of the app and their sexual orientation.
- The Met Police have worked with charities to overcome the LGBT+ community’s "lack of faith in policing" and have taken steps to increase reporting and investigation of dating app crimes.
- The case has highlighted the need for greater awareness and support for minoritised victims of crime and the importance of ensuring meaningful access to safety and criminal justice.
Introduction to the Case
The case of Rahmad Khan Mohammadi and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, two men who used the gay dating app Grindr to target victims in a series of burglaries and frauds, has shed light on the issue of dating app crimes and the vulnerability of the LGBT+ community. The pair, who were described as part of "London’s most prolific Grindr gang," stole phones, passports, and wallets in 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds, totaling £68,000 over six months. The victims were targeted because they were perceived as vulnerable due to their use of the app and their sexual orientation.
The Modus Operandi
The modus operandi of the pair was to trick their way into the homes of unsuspecting men by arranging to meet up with them on Grindr. Once inside, they would distract the men and persuade them to unlock their phones to play music, sometimes asking the victim to take a shower before sex, and then escaping with the device or other valuable items. The duo would then use debit and credit cards stored on the phones and on one occasion accessed a victim’s bank account and stole money by transferring cash. The pair targeted multiple men per week, repeatedly making new profiles and sometimes entering homes together, while on other occasions one would enter alone, while the other waited outside to act as a getaway driver.
The Impact on Victims
The impact on the victims was significant, with one describing how he felt his ‘vulnerability was used against me, because of my sexuality and body size.’ Another victim was hospitalised due to the stress caused by the theft and subsequent fraud, while another recounted how his studies and finances were wrecked. The victims’ statements, read out in court, described the damage done to their confidence and finances, and the sense of humiliation and vulnerability they felt. The court heard how the pair relied on victims "being too embarrassed to report the crime," but Judge Adenike Bologun said she wasn’t persuaded that the offences demonstrated hostility to the victims based on their sexual orientation, adding that "this was an opportunistic offence."
The Response of the Met Police
The Met Police have worked with charities to overcome the LGBT+ community’s "lack of faith in policing" after a landmark report found the force to be institutionally homophobic. Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead, said the investigation had opened the force’s eyes to how prolific dating app crimes could be. Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Team, said officers were surprised "how easily they could use the app to move around the victims." The Met has taken steps to increase reporting and investigation of dating app crimes, with word of mouth spreading and people becoming more confident in reporting crimes.
The Importance of Support for Minoritised Victims
The case has highlighted the need for greater awareness and support for minoritised victims of crime and the importance of ensuring meaningful access to safety and criminal justice. Jasmine O’Connor, from anti-LGBT+ abuse charity Galop, said: "We know Grindr is widely used by many LGBT+ people, not only for dating, but also for community, connection, and mutual support – particularly for people who may feel otherwise isolated." The charity has called for more to be done to ensure minoritised victims of crime have meaningful access to safety and criminal justice.
Conclusion and Sentencing
Mohammadi was sentenced to five years in prison and Hotak to three-and-a-half years. The sentencing reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and the impact on the victims. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and awareness when using dating apps and the need for support and protection for minoritised communities. The Met Police’s response to the case and their efforts to increase reporting and investigation of dating app crimes are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that all victims of crime have access to justice and support.
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