Rahmad Khan Mohammadi, 23, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, were sentenced to five years and three-and-a-half years respectively after stealing phones, wallets, and even bank details from dozens of men across the capital. The pair arranged meetups via Grindr, tricked their way into victims’ homes, and then distracted them before fleeing with valuables, sometimes even encouraging victims to shower first to gain access to their phones.
In total, they carried out at least 35 burglaries and 20 frauds, netting £68,000. One victim was hospitalised from the stress, and others described being humiliated, manipulated, and financially wrecked. While prosecutors accused the pair of showing “contemptuous ill will” toward gay men, the judge ruled the crimes were opportunistic rather than motivated by hate.
Police say the case has shed light on how widely dating apps are being used for criminal purposes, with officers working closely with LGBT+ groups to rebuild trust. One senior officer said the investigation opened their eyes to the scale of Grindr-related crimes and vowed to fully support future victims.
The court heard disturbing comments from defence lawyers, including one who suggested women wouldn’t be “foolish” enough to let strangers into their homes, drawing criticism from LGBT+ advocates.
The sentencing follows a landmark report accusing the Met of institutional homophobia and highlights growing efforts to take LGBT+ abuse seriously. Police urge anyone affected by app-based exploitation to come forward.