Perth Teens Jailed After Targeting Gay Men In A Series Of Vicious Grindr Attacks
Five teenage boys in Perth have been sentenced after using a fake Grindr profile to lure men to isolated locations where they were then violently attacked. The details, shared in the Perth Children’s Court, are confronting: men were tasered, stripped, bashed, robbed, and humiliated—all while being filmed. Some were even chased into traffic or swamps.
The case, reported by ABC News, revealed that the victims, who were all lured under the impression they were meeting someone for sex, were targeted with brutal precision. The teenagers, aged 16 and 17 at the time of the attacks, came armed with machetes, knives, metal bars, pepper spray and tasers.
“The Victims Were Outnumbered and Unarmed”
Judge Wendy Hughes described the acts as “planned and premeditated” saying the attacks used “fraud and deceit” to lure each man. She added, “The victims would have been terrified,” pointing out the cruelty shown by the boys despite their young age.
In one particularly brutal attack, a man was tasered in the face, punched until his teeth were knocked out, stripped naked, threatened with drowning, and chased into a swamp. His wallet was stolen, and intimate photos of him were later shared online.
Another victim was ambushed by up to eight boys wearing ski masks. His car was vandalised with boulders before he woke up in a stranger’s home, bleeding and confused. One man was even tasered near his genitals as he lay injured and dazed, according to police.
The teenagers used Grindr to pretend to be interested in casual hookups, selecting their victims online and arranging late-night meetings. When the men arrived, they were ambushed. In some cases, the attackers filmed the violence and posted the footage to social media. A member of the public reported one such video to police, which showed a man being tasered.
Aiming to “Catch Paedophiles”? Lawyers Disagree on Motive
Some of the teens’ lawyers argued that their clients believed they were targeting paedophiles, not gay men. But the court found no proof of that claim. Judge Hughes made it clear that the victims had been targeted due to their perceived sexual orientation.
“This wasn’t misguided,” she said. “This was organised, vicious, and done for the thrill.”
One victim, the court heard, has been left mentally scarred. He no longer goes out and is “a shell of himself,” despite recovering physically. Others were left with long-term trauma and injuries.
One of the teens received a two-year and two-month sentence in youth detention – the longest sentence. The others were sentenced to at least 18 months each. All five pleaded guilty to a range of offences, including armed robbery, unlawful wounding, and distributing intimate images.
Two more boys are still facing charges. One has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
What This Means for Online Safety and Dating Apps
The attacks highlight the risks associated with using dating apps. While Grindr remains a tool for connection, this case serves as a chilling reminder that it can also be used with dangerous intent.
These attacks weren’t random. They were targeted, violent, and rooted in hate.
The victims were not only physically injured but also publicly humiliated and emotionally shattered. They went out hoping for connection and came away traumatised.
