Five men have been jailed for a collective 80 years after a 10-month spree which saw them prey on victims through apps like Grindr before holding them hostage and robbing their money and belongings
A band of thugs who stole thousands of pounds from victims they lured through dating and hookup apps like Grindr have been caged for more than 80 years.
The five men robbed more than £100,000 from innocent victims they met while posing on the apps in a “calculated” 10-month spree. Demalji Hadza, 21, Abubaker Alezawy, 21, Ali Hassan, 20, Wasim Omar, 24, and Mohammed Sharif, 22, created profiles on apps before meeting up and attacking them, stealing their belongings.
All five have been given lengthy jail sentences for the string of robberies, which took place in Birmingham and Derby between 2023 and 2024. Birmingham crown court heard how the men preyed on their victims through apps like Grindr before being trapped and robbed.
Some were held for hours, violently assaulted by the masked thugs and coerced into making large bank transfers from their phones. Vehicles, house keys, wallets and identification documents were also stolen, and victims were often threatened with large weapons before being left stranded. Many also had their faces held down in mud while they were robbed.
Those injured were left with a horrific catalogue of injuries which included broken eye sockets, a dislocated shoulder and a broken nose. The court heard how the men used other techniques to target prey, including pretending to be injured before turning on Samaritans who came to help them.
Hassan, Omar and Sharif were all found guilty following a six-week trial back in September last year. Co-conspirators Hadza and Alezawy pleaded guilty on day two of the trial.
Police said that, in one incident, the men pretended their car had broken down on a road in Derby before violently robbing two people trying to help them. Detectives analysed CCTV footage of the men at ATMs taking out large sums of money, as well as footage from shops where the victims’ stolen cards were used.
Detective Inspector Tom Lyons, from West Midlands Police, said: “This was a calculated series of robberies with Hadza, Alezawy, Hasan, Omar and Sharif, deliberately targeting victims because they believed they were vulnerable, easy targets. My team conducted a lengthy investigation which required piecing together many strands of evidence.
“I know that it took the 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 build a strong case, which ultimately brought the offenders to justice, and has undoubtedly prevented many other people from becoming a victim.
“I hope today’s sentencing provides reassurance that we take these types of offences extremely seriously, and always do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice. Those found committing offences like this can expect to face a considerable length of time in prison.”
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.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Sarah Byrne of West Midlands Police, added: “Convicting these individuals would have never been possible without the victims’ bravery in sharing their accounts with the police and court. We hope that seeing these individuals being held to account for their actions will bring closure for the victims.
“I would encourage anyone who has been subject to a similar ordeal to come forward and report it to police. All reports will be dealt with sensitively and victims will be supported by specially trained officers.”