Vile gang used dating app Grindr to lure in victims then rob them

Demalji Hadza, Abubaker Alezawy, Ali Hassan, Wasim Omar and Mohammed Sharif planned, conspired and stole over £100,000 from their victims in operations across Golden Hillock Park in south Birmingham and in Derby city centre between 2023 and 2024.

The men used dating apps like Grindr to convince users they were meeting up for a date.

They would hold the victims for hours while using their phones to steal money from their bank accounts.

The criminals would also attack their victims, threaten them with weapons and rob them of their house keys, IDs and wallets.

Vehicles were also stolen during the 10-month crime spree.

Authorities say those targeted were left injured with broken and dislocated bones, and many required hospital treatment.

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The group would also feign injures to trick members of the public into stopping to help them.

One incident saw the men pretend to have their car broken down in Derby, before robbing two people who tried to assist them.

During most of the assaults, the perpetrators hid their identities with face coverings, or held their victims down with their faces in the mud to stop them from identifying their assailants.

Video footage showed the men withdrawing sums of money from cashpoints, as well as celebrating outside shops after spending the money.

Omar, 24, has been sentenced to 17 years and three months.

Hassan, 20, has been jailed for 16 years and nine months, while Alezawy, 21, has been sentenced to 16 years and five months.

Hadza, 21, has been sentenced to 16 years and two months, while Sharif, 22, has been jailed for 12 years and three months.