Two “cowardly” teenage boys who used a dating app to target gay men in violent ambushes, including one victim who was tasered and had teeth knocked out, have been sentenced to juvenile detention.
The pair were part of a group of seven teenagers charged over the string of assaults, in which the offenders armed themselves with knives, machetes and a taser.
Details of the attacks were outlined in the Perth Children’s Court today, when the now 18-year-old and 16-year-old appeared for sentencing.
The court heard the oldest boy was involved in one of the most serious attacks, in which a 30-year-old man was tasered and had his teeth knocked out.
Vacant land on Stillwater Gardens in South Lake where one of the attacks took place. (ABC News: Armin Azad)
The victim was also detained against his will and forced to undress, before running from the group and hiding in the weeds of a nearby swamp until the boys left.
The 18-year-old offender, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was involved in another incident where a 31-year-old man was attacked in a park, then hit by a slow-moving car when he attempted to flee.
The group then grabbed the man and dragged him back to the park where they hit him over the head with a metal pole and threatened him with a taser, the court heard.
Teens who used Grindr to set up brutal, violent ambushes on men sentenced
He pleaded guilty to seven offences, including aggravated robbery, assault occasioning bodily harm, deprivation of liberty, threaten to harm and unlawful wounding.
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.
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.
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.
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He was chased, punched and kicked and the keys to his car were taken.
One of the teenagers drove off in the victim’s car while the 16-year-old recorded the event on his phone.
The court heard in the recording the offenders could be heard using vulgar language and laughing.
‘Lawless idiot’
The 16-year old pleaded guilty to aggravated armed robbery and assault occasioning bodily harm, and was sentenced to six months’ detention.
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old was given 14 months’ detention, with his lawyer Anthony Eyers describing his actions as “discriminatory and cowardly”.
“There’s no gloss that I can give,” Mr Eyers said.
Lawyer Anthony Eyers told the court his 18-year-old client had behaved like a “lawless idiot”. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
“If he behaves like a lawless idiot, he will be treated like a lawless idiot.”
Mr Eyres said the boy’s offending was a result of ignorance and lack of insight.
“Adolescent boys in large bodies with small brains,” he said.
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.
‘Cruel and unkind’
Judge Wendy Hughes, who also dealt with the other five offenders, said their actions caused humiliation and were demeaning.
“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.
“How can young people like you be so cruel and so unkind to another human being?”
She said attacks against the LGBTQIA+ community often went unreported due to fear of discrimination.
The pair was sentenced in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
“Because of this they are a community, reluctant, frightened or scared and ashamed even though they didn’t do anything wrong.
“What I need to let you know is that targeted crimes like this will not be tolerated in any form.”
Both the boys’ families were in the court room, with one of their mothers appearing distressed while listening to proceedings.
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.
Both will be eligible for parole after serving half their terms in detention.
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