Birmingham Grindr Robbers Jailed for Nearly 80 Years Amidst Outrage
A gang that targeted gay men on Grindr has been sentenced to nearly 80 years for their violent crimes in Birmingham
Birmingham, UK, Grindr, Robbery, Hate Crime, Gang Violence
Birmingham: A gang of five men has been sentenced to almost 80 years in prison for robbing gay men they met on Grindr. They were pretty brutal, stealing over £100,000 during their crime spree that lasted about ten months.
They even attacked two men in Derby at knifepoint and held another victim captive for over 12 hours after spiking his drink at a nightclub. The gang would lure their victims to parks, like Golden Hillock Sports Ground, and force them to unlock their phones to drain their bank accounts.
In court, the judge was really harsh on them, saying they targeted gay men out of homophobia, thinking they wouldn’t report the crimes. She praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward, saying they had nothing to be ashamed of.
Each member of the gang got hefty sentences. Demalji Hadza received 16 years and two months, while Abubaker Al Ezawy got 16 years and five months. The others received similar sentences, with the longest being 17 years and three months for Wasim Omar.
The judge pointed out that the gang acted out of greed and ignorance, showing a complete lack of respect for their victims. She emphasized how they formed a toxic group, encouraging each other in their cruel actions.
There were nine attacks in total, with the gang often targeting intoxicated men. They would pretend to be injured to distract their victims before robbing them. The violence was shocking, with some victims suffering serious injuries.
One victim even had his face pushed into the mud, while another was interrogated about his sexuality in a humiliating way. The gang’s last attack involved a man who was kidnapped after his drink was spiked, leading to a loss of £20,500 in cash and cryptocurrency.
Prosecutors labeled the robbery spree a hate crime, highlighting the gang’s belief that gay men would be less likely to report them. None of the men had prior convictions, and their defense lawyers tried to argue for leniency, but the judge was firm in her sentencing.
It was an emotional day in court, with many family members of the defendants breaking down in tears as the sentences were read. The whole situation is just a reminder of how important it is to stand up against hate and violence.