A man who used Grindr to have sex with men before blackmailing them for money has received extra jail time after more victims came forward.
Twenty-nine-year-old Anouar Sabbar, from Borough, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in January last year and got another two years and three months at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, July 25.
He had pleaded guilty to seven counts of blackmail, two counts of attempted fraud, and theft.
He had previously pleaded guilty to robbery, theft, five counts of blackmail and five counts of fraud at Snaresbrook Crown Court on November 8, 2021, and was then handed a five-year imprisonment sentence.
The Met commended victims for their “bravery” and urged others, who may have fallen foul of Anouar, to step forward.
Described as a “dangerous and predatory individual” Sabbar would have consensual sex with victims he met on the online dating app Grindr before claiming to be an escort.
He would then demand money, threatening blackmail and, on at least one occasion, physical violence if his victims refused.
Police said he “intentionally targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community, believing that shame or embarrassment would prevent his victims from coming forward”.
Sabbar committed his offences between August 2018 and March 2021, targeting men in their thirties.
He stole £870 from his victims during this time. When one victim refused to pay him, Sabbar said a group of people would come to his home and beat him up.
After obtaining the money, Sabbar would block the victim’s profile which automatically removed the online conversation for both parties, making it difficult for him to be traced.
He would switch his SIM card and mobile number regularly and often changed his hairstyle to avoid detection.
Detectives took detailed statements from victims. In some instances, they identified Sabbar thanks to media reports about him.
Police obtained his DNA from a glass that he’d sipped from at a victim’s home.
Superintendent Martin Kirby, the Met’s Lead for Hate Crime, said: “We do not tolerate the targeting of victims based on their sexuality or gender, or perceived sexuality or gender, and anyone who does come forward to disclose an allegation of crime of this nature will be treated sensitively and in confidence.
“We are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to protect the identities of victims in these cases, recognising that some victims may not identify as gay or bisexual or be ‘out’ to friends or relatives, perhaps because of cultural reasons.
“I can also fully appreciate that some victims may feel embarrassed about coming forward, or are perhaps nervous about speaking to a police officer due to other factors. We are doing all we can, by working closely with other agencies, to give victims the support that is right for them.”
Those who believe they, or somebody else, has been a victim, can call 101 quoting Op Fardella. Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. People can also contact the charity Galop by calling their LGBT+ hate crime helpline on 020 7704 2040.
