Teens who used Grindr to set up brutal, violent ambushes on men sentenced<\/a><\/p>\nA court hears horrific details of how a group of teenagers used the promise of sex to lure men to secluded areas of Perth to brutally attack them.<\/p>\n
He pleaded guilty to seven offences, including aggravated robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm, deprivation of liberty, threaten to harm and unlawful wounding.<\/p>\n
The court heard the 16-year-old’s photo was used to create a fake profile on dating app Grindr, which the group used to contact the victims.<\/p>\n
He was the youngest of the group and was involved in a separate incident in which a 34-year-old man was lured to South Lake.<\/p>\n
When the victim arrived at the arranged location he was confronted by four people wearing dark clothes and ski masks, holding weapons which included a machete, crowbar and pepper spray.<\/p>\n
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He was chased, punched and kicked and the keys to his car were taken.<\/p>\n
One of the teenagers drove off in the victim’s car while the 16-year-old recorded the event on his phone.<\/p>\n
The court heard in the recording the offenders could be heard using vulgar language and laughing.<\/p>\n
‘Lawless idiot’<\/p>\n
The 16-year old pleaded guilty to aggravated armed robbery and assault occasioning bodily harm, and was sentenced to six months’ detention.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old was given 14 months’ detention, with his lawyer Anthony Eyers describing his actions as “discriminatory and cowardly”.<\/p>\n
“There’s no gloss that I can give,” Mr Eyers said.<\/p>\n
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Lawyer Anthony Eyers told the court his 18-year-old client had behaved like a “lawless idiot”. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)<\/p>\n
“If he behaves like a lawless idiot, he will be treated like a lawless idiot.”<\/p>\n
Mr Eyres said the boy’s offending was a result of ignorance and lack of insight.<\/p>\n
“Adolescent boys in large bodies with small brains,” he said.<\/p>\n
The five other teenagers who admitted viciously bashing and robbing the men were sentenced earlier this year, with the longest sentence being two years and two months.<\/p>\n
‘Cruel and unkind’<\/p>\n
Judge Wendy Hughes, who also dealt with the other five offenders, said their actions caused humiliation and were demeaning.<\/p>\n
“Boys do silly things and don’t think things through, however, there was plenty of time to think about what you were doing and not go through with it,” Judge Hughes said.<\/p>\n
“How can young people like you be so cruel and so unkind to another human being?”<\/p>\n
She said attacks against the LGBTQIA+ community often went unreported due to fear of discrimination.<\/p>\n
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The pair was sentenced in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday.\u00a0 (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n
“Because of this they are a community, reluctant, frightened or scared and ashamed even though they didn’t do anything wrong.<\/p>\n
“What I need to let you know is that targeted crimes like this will not be tolerated in any form.”<\/p>\n
Both the boys’ families were in the court room, with one of their mothers appearing distressed while listening to proceedings.<\/p>\n
After the boys were sentenced, the oldest boy was taken back into custody and his mother asked the judge if she could hug him but was told she couldn’t.<\/p>\n
Both will be eligible for parole after serving half their terms in detention.<\/p>\n
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