Grindr User Humiliated and Robbed: Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Berlin’s regional court has, on Wednesday, according to the LGBTQ+ scene magazine Siegessäule, convicted 20-year-old Daniel F. of a spree of robberies targeting gay men and sentenced him to five years in prison. The criminal panel found it proven that the defendant, in November and December 2025, committed multiple counts of aggravated robberies in conjunction with dangerous bodily harm.

F. admitted using the dating app Grindr to lure gay men to alleged sexual meetings. Over a six-week period, he targeted seven victims, robbing them at meeting points. He stole cash, mobile phones, and other valuables. He also used the smartphones to initiate money transfers to his father’s PayPal account.

Beyond the robberies, the judge took into account the offender’s demeaning behavior in their assessment. For example, he forced one victim to chew on a dirty bird skeleton as punishment for not “cooperating.” Another victim was compelled to insult themselves in a video as a “dick-sucker.” He assaulted four of the victims with physical violence, such as punches or kicks. The court stressed that the victims still suffer substantial psychological harm and anxiety to this day.

The Defendant Claims He Has Nothing Against Homosexuals

The defendant had argued during the proceedings that he harbored no hostility toward LGBTQ people. He claimed the robberies were merely a way to fund his drug addiction, noting that he used cocaine daily. Prosecutors evaluated the total haul at €7,500.

With a five-year sentence, the chamber under the leadership of Judge Frank Klamandt largely followed the prosecution’s demand for five years and three months. The defense had urged for a suspended sentence.

The verdict is not yet final. The defense has already announced plans to pursue a revision.

During the trial, Berlin’s Commissioner for LGBTQ+ Issues, Alfonso Pantisano, lamented that the case did not receive sufficient attention. He criticized that he had not been informed: “Why weren’t LGBTQ+ liaison officers from @polizeiberlin and the public prosecutor’s office involved early? Why weren’t the cases classified as a possible serial against gay men and men who have sex with men? Why was there no warning?”