Birmingham teenagers jailed over gay dating app robberies
Three Birmingham teenagers have been jailed for robbing and humiliating men they'd targeted on Grindr.
Mohammed Sohail Khan, Qaasim Ahmad and Muhammad Umar, all aged 18, created fake profiles on Grindr.
The gang communicated with men on the app to convince them to meet up, and over a period of three months arranged at least four fake dates with unsuspecting victims.
Thy arranged to meet their dates in Bordesley Green and then forced them onto wasteland - before assaulting and restraining the victims, robbing them, and humiliating them by shouting anti-gay slurs.
The first attack happened on 5 January 2019, and three further reports were made to West Midlands Police on the 18, 24 and 29 March.
One of the victim’s told police that he was spat on during his ordeal. DNA from his clothing was found to match that of Muhammad Umar who was then arrested in Bordesley Green.
Khan and Ahmad were quickly identified as suspects soon after, and were arrested by police at their home addresses on 30 March.
Both Khan and Umar pleaded guilty to both conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to rob – including false imprisonment.
And Ahmad was found guilty of all three crimes following a 13 day trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
They were sentenced to a combined total of more than 37 years in prison:
· Qaasim Ahmad from Heather Road, Small Heath was sentenced to 13 years, four months
· Mohammed Sohail Khan of George Road, Hay Mills to 13 years, four months
· Muhammad Umar from Denville Crescent, Bordesley Green to 11 years, three months
Det Chief Inspector Ian Ingram said:
“This was a calculated series of robberies with Khan, Ahmad and Umar deliberately targeting gay men via the dating app Grindr, because they believed they were vulnerable, easy targets.
“My team gathered compelling evidence against the trio - who in police interview showed no remorse for what they had done, and seemingly had no grasp of the trauma they had subjected their victim to.
“I know it took the four victims in this case a huge amount of bravery and courage to come forward and support the criminal justice process through to trial - and I commend them for doing so.
“Their evidence enabled us to launch a full scale investigation and a build a strong case, which ultimately brought the offenders to justice, and has undoubtedly prevented many other people from becoming a victim.
“Unfortunately we suspect the defendants may have committed other offences before they were arrested, and many victims may not have reported what happened to them to police"
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