Grindr victims' hours of horror from hideous injuries to being rendered unconscious
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A vicious gang of thugs who lured their victims on an LGBT dating app before holding them at knifepoint to steal their money have now been locked up for 80 years. Across a period of 10 months, starting in 2023, the group of five plotted a spate of robberies across Birmingham and Derby, which saw them steal more than £100,000. They set up fake profiles on Grindr under the pretence of arranging to meet victims for dates, but when four of them agreed to meet at car parks, they were each then attacked and held captive, West Midlands Police said.
While fearing for their lives, their phones were used to transfer huge sums of money from their bank accounts in a 'calculated' move to prey on those more vulnerable. The gang also took advantage of the good nature of strangers when they pretended to be injured in quiet spots of Derby city centre. They tricked locals into thinking they needed help but instead attacked and robbed them.
Demalji Hadza, 21, of Erskine Street, Nechells, Abubaker Alezawy, 21, of Baverstock Road, Druids Heath, Ali Hassan, 20, of Albert Road, Lozells, Wasim Omar, 24, of Wardlow Road, Nechells and Mohammed Sharif, 22, of Keer Court, Bordlesley Green, were all convicted of the series of robberies. Omar was jailed for 17 years and three months, Hadza for 16 years and two months, Alezawy for 16 years and five months and Hassan for 16 years and nine months. Mohammed Sharif was jailed for 12 years and three months over the crimes.
