Robbers used Grindr and WhatsApp to plan knife-wielding robberies of members of LGBT community in South Cambridgeshire

A Cambridge man has been jailed for three years for his part in targeting men through a dating app in a bid to rob them.

Harrison Carter, 27, of Chesterton Road, joined Eden White and Mackenzie Wales, both from Cambourne, Jack Walker, from Papworth Everard, and James Doel, from Knapwell in using Whatsapp to plan the series of robberies between 27 May and 16 June 2022.

They used Grindr to seek out lone men and arrange to meet them in hours of darkness, when they demanded mobile phones and cash while dressed in dark clothing with masks covering their faces and waving knives.

The first robbery was reported by a man in his 30s after he arranged to meet a man called ‘Toby’ at around 2am on 27 May at the playing field in Chequers Lane, Papworth Everard.

The victim, who is deaf, was asked to share his live location when he arrived and was approached by two men in dark clothing with knives.

They used a phone to demand he hand over his own mobile phone and wallet and then wrote “lie down on the grass for five minutes” as they ran off.

The victim waited until they were gone before running to the nearest house to seek help.

On 29 May, they struck again on Jubilee playing field, in Alms Hill, Bourn at around 6am. The victim, in his 50s, arrived to find men in dark clothing and a face mask demanding phone, keys and money.

A third victim, a man in his 40s, began to talk to a man called ‘Charlie’ on 10 June and they met on a couple of occasions, but each time ‘Charlie’ was wearing a balaclava.

On 12 June, ‘Charlie’ asked to meet and offered him £60, but when he arrived at Cambourne Business Park at 12.50am, ‘Charlie’ and another man were brandishing knives.

The mobile number used to contact the victim was linked to White, which led to the identities of White, Wales, Walker and Carter.

Police found Whatsapp groups involving the group detailing the method, sharing of profile images, arrangements to set up fake Grindr accounts, and the planning and preparation of the offences, including the locations, weapons, face coverings and clothing. The group also discussed the aftermath of robbery offences.

At Huntingdon Law Courts on Thursday (20 June), Carter was sentenced to three years in prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiring to commit robbery

Det Insp Juliet Heald said: “Carter and the other men used Whatsapp to plan every detail of these robberies and then joked about them afterwards. They intentionally preyed on members of the LGBT community, targeting victims through Grindr knowing that they would meet up, alone, in times and locations where no one else was present and believing they would be less likely to report the incidents to police.

“The courage of the victims coming forward has prevented others being subjected to harm and although the groups actions will always remain with them, I do hope that this final sentence can bring them a sense of closure.”

On 8 November, Eden White, 22, of Quidditch Lane, Lower Cambourne, was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to commit robbery, being concerned in the supply of class B drugs and conspiring to commit fraud by false representation.

Mackenzie Wales, 19, of Anson Road, Upper Cambourne, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months for conspiring to commit robbery.

Jack Walker, 22, of Cromwell Crescent, Papworth Everard, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for conspiring to commit robbery.

James Doel, 19, of St Neots Road, Knapwell, was given a 12 month youth referral order in April 2023 for conspiring to commit robbery and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.