Burglars who used dating app Grindr to trick their victims handed jail sentences

LocalPolitics
23 Dec 2025 • 3:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Rahmat Khan Mohammadi and Mohammed Bilal Hotak were jailed for using the dating app Grindr to burgle victims' homes across London.
  • The men tricked victims into revealing phone passwords under the guise of playing music, then stole their mobile phones and money through online transfers.
  • Mohammadi targeted 11 individuals between October 2024 and March 2025, while Hotak committed multiple offences from October to December 2024.
  • Mohammadi received a five-year prison sentence, and Hotak was jailed for three and a half years at Isleworth Crown Court.
  • The judge stated victims were targeted due to their perceived vulnerability and the "easy access" provided by Grindr, rather than hostility towards their sexuality.

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