Two men have been sentenced to prison after using the dating app Grindr to identify and target their victims for burglary and fraud.
Rahmat Khan Mohammadi, 23, from Harrow, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, from Hackney, exploited the app’s platform to make contact with men, arranging meetings at their homes. Once inside, they used distraction techniques to obtain mobile phone passwords before stealing devices and other valuables such as wallets and passports.
The stolen phones were then used to access personal information, enabling the pair to transfer money, make payments, and commit further fraud. Their crimes took place across London between October 2024 and March 2025, involving at least 22 victims.
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Both men, Afghan nationals, were arrested in April and found guilty of burglary, fraud, and theft at Isleworth Crown Court on November 4. Mohammadi received a five-year prison sentence, while Hotak was handed three-and-a-half years.
Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met Police’s hate crime lead, condemned the offenders’ actions, describing the crimes as “callous, calculated, pre-planned” with a devastating effect on victims. He emphasised the Met’s commitment to ensuring safety for all London communities, particularly within the LGBT+ community.
The extensive investigation involved reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, ANPR data, and phone records to link the suspects to 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds. The Met’s Specialist Crime Command worked closely with the LGBT+ Advisory Group and the charity GALOP to handle the case with sensitivity.
Detective Inspector Mark Gavin underlined the importance of supporting victims throughout the inquiry to build trust and confidence within the LGBT+ community. This approach helped strengthen evidence presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, leading to enhanced charges and sentences.
The Met Police reiterated their zero-tolerance stance on organised crime and their ongoing dedication to protecting vulnerable communities from such exploitative offences.