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Two men involved in a series of thefts targeting users of the gay dating app Grindr in London have been sentenced to a combined total of eight and a half years in prison. Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, and Rahmad Khan Mohammadi, 23, carried out 35 burglaries and 20 related fraud offenses over six months, stealing phones, passports, and wallets. The Metropolitan Police reported that their criminal activities resulted in losses amounting to £68,000. One victim was so severely affected they required hospital treatment due to the stress of having their finances compromised through fraudulent loans, credit agreements, and overdraft usage.
At Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Adenike Bologun addressed the men’s sentencing, highlighting that the accused relied on their victims’ embarrassment to avoid reporting the crimes. However, the judge stated that the offenses appeared to be opportunistic rather than motivated by any hostility towards the victims’ sexual orientation. She made it clear that the evidence did not show the crimes were driven by bias against the targeted individuals.
The court was informed that Mohammadi and Hotak, both Afghan nationals residing in Harrow and Hackney respectively, used the dating app to lure men into meeting them in person. Police explained that the men regularly created new profiles on Grindr, meeting multiple victims each week. Once inside the victims’ homes, the duo would distract them by requesting to play music on their phones or by persuading them to shower before sex, then steal valuables including phones. They exploited access to debit and credit cards saved on the devices, at times withdrawing money directly from victims’ bank accounts. In one instance, the suspects convinced a man to meet them in a nearby park, where they carried out further theft.
During the trial, prosecutor David Patience read victim statements detailing the personal impact of the crimes. One victim spoke of feeling manipulated and exploited because of their sexuality and body size, describing being humiliated and physically unable to defend themselves after being led into a park. Another victim was hospitalized from the emotional strain, while others reported severe disruptions to their studies and financial stability. Patience asserted that the accused demonstrated “contemptuous ill will” toward gay men, targeting them because of their sexual orientation and trust in the dating app. Hotak’s barrister, John Kearney, rejected these claims, arguing the victims had been reckless and emphasizing that women would not have put themselves in similar vulnerable situations. Mohammadi’s defense lawyer, Nathan Toms, provided background on his client’s history, explaining that Mohammadi fled Afghanistan after being stabbed at 15 and faced threats within his family. Ultimately, Mohammadi received a five-year prison sentence, while Hotak was sentenced to three a
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