Ethan Jeffs, left and Patrick Paul Moloney are two of three men sentenced for their role in attacks on gay men targeted through the Grindr app and labelled by the trio as "paedophiles". Photo: NZ Herald / Ayla YeomanThe actions of a group of young men who posted "video montages" of assaults on gay men they had lured through Grindr have been described as "a hate crime". Fake profiles were made, messages exchanged and gay men were lured to private homes, parks and streets, often late at night. She said the Grindr app was primarily used because it was free, not because it was used by gay men. "It was the targeting of gay men and the clear conclusion I have reached is that this was a hate crime," Judge Coyle said.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 20, 2025 11:57 UTC