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Two thieves have been jailed for exploiting dating app Grindr to give victims access to their homes and subsequently stealing their mobile phones and money.
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 27, arranged meetings at their targets’ London properties, then persuaded them to reveal their phone passwords under the guise of playing music on YouTube.
The Afghan refugees would then abscond with the devices, quickly exit the premises before making online or contactless payments, and, in some cases, transferring the money directly to themselves.
Mohammadi targeted 11 individuals during a five-month crime series between October 24, 2024 and March 24 this year, while Hotak committed several crimes between October 24, 2024 and December 23, 2024.
At Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, Mohammadi received a five-year prison sentence, while Hotak was jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Sentencing the pair, Judge Adenike Balogun highlighted the deep impact on the victims, saying: “I have taken into account the psychological trauma as well as the discomfort caused to the victims, and the distress they have all expressed at being allowed to simply violate you in their homes – in their personal space.”
Prosecutor David Patience had argued that the victims were targeted because of their sexuality, suggesting that the crimes could be considered hate crimes.
However, the judge clarified his position: “I have considered that case very carefully and it seems to me that the alleged sexual orientation of the victims presented an opportunity for you to commit the offences, and in that respect I find that the victims… were targeted because of their perceived vulnerability.”
He concluded that the victims were not selected because of “animosity” toward their sexuality, but because Grindr, as an app facilitating gay hook-ups, provided “an opportunity to gain easy access to the victims’ homes.”
Judge Balogun added: “I suspect – and I can say no more than this – the victims were being blamed for not reporting the crime.”
To facilitate their crimes, a Grindr profile was set up, usually without any photos. When victims requested an image, someone else’s photo was sent.
Meetings were held, Mohammadi often brought Hotak with him as a ‘friend’. Once inside, they would usually ask the victim to play music on YouTube, as this would prevent the phone from being locked.
Distraction tactics would then be employed, including excuses such as taking a bath before sex, making a drink or going to the toilet, prompting the victim to leave the room.
“In all the cases, when the victim returned to the main room you had left, or one of you left, the victim discovered his mobile phone was missing,” the judge said.
Mohammadi, of Weald Lane in Harrow, north-west London, was found guilty by a jury of 10 counts of burglary of a house, nine of fraud by false representation and one count of theft.
Hotak, of Richmond Road in Hackney, east London, was convicted of five counts of house burglary, five counts of fraud by false representation and one count of theft.