Brisbane man, Cooper Roam Watt, has been convicted and sentenced after he, along with two teenagers, robbed and assaulted a 70-year-old man while pretending to be 15-years-old on Grindr.
Watt recieved a two-year prison sentence with immediate parole. A conviction was recorded, and he has been ordered to pay restitution of the $3000.
The Brisbane District Court heard how, when Watt was 18, he pretended to be a 15-year-old on the dating app Grindr. Watt is now 20.
He and two teenagers sent a 70-year-old man naked, underage images and made arrangements to meet him at a park in Deception Bay.
On January 27 2025, the victim was violently assaulted when he went to the park. The group forced him to drive to an ATM and withdraw $3000.
This incident is just one example of gay hate crimes on the rise, specifically targeting men who have sex with men via dating apps across the country.
In August, Victoria Police shared that the total number of arrests they have made in a series of homophobic attacks of this type is now fifty. Of a further five arrests made that month, three of the alleged perpetrators were aged under eighteen.
In February, a two-year ABC investigation revealed that Sydney teenagers were targeted via a teen dating app and assaulted. These teens were amongst the first victims of the terrorist network that produced the gunmen from the Bondi Terror attack.
In 2025, 20-year-old Blake Dean Nightingall pleaded guilty to a Grindr ‘vigilante’ bashing and was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment.
Related content:
- Judge blasts ‘abhorrent’ Grindr attacks as three men jailed
- What I learned at Thorne Harbour’s Grindr Safety Community Forum
- Dedicated helpline for targeted dating app violence established
Victim repeatedly called a ‘pedophile’ while being assaulted
The Courier-Mail reported that during sentencing, Crown Prosecutor Zachary Kaplan referenced Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere.
Kaplan said this crime “relates to what really is an epidemic in relation to young men consuming theatre online and being encouraged to take back society from these people, and in this situation, this defendant and his two co-offenders have done exactly that.”
In referencing the documentary, he said, “It addresses influences on social media platforms creating content where they lure what they consider to be pedophiles to a location, where they then extract vigilante justice. They got this individual to drive them back to the park, where further assaults took place, and his phone was stolen”.
Mr Kaplan shared how the victim was repeatedly called a ‘pedophile ‘ during the assault, where he was kicked and punched on the ground, leaving him with bruises and abrasions.
Watt pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in company with personal violence
Defence barrister Kerala Drew said that “what happened on the 27th of January 2025 was an isolated, foolish incident committed by an 18-year-old boy”, submitting Watt could be sentenced to probation with no conviction recorded due to his young age.
Watt had previously worked in aged care, but lost his blue card as a result of the offence.
Ms Drew noted Watt had a lesser role in the physical assault compared with the younger co-offenders who were dealt with in the Children’s Court.
As Watt was an adult at the time, Judge John Allen KC said he faced stricter penalties.
“The offending was also serious in that it was targeted against a person by reasons of his sexuality and it’s not justified by any vigilante motive,” Judge Allen said.
Judge Allen accepted Watt’s efforts towards rehabilitation and lack of criminal history, but said it would be “entirely inadequate” that no conviction be recorded when considering the strong need for general deterrence.
If you need support, help is available from QLife at 1800 184 527 or online at QLife.org.au, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
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