A man who used a dating app to target and rob men after having sex with them has been jailed for a further two years after more victims came forward.
Anouar Sabbar, 29 (01.01.94), of Cole Street, Southwark was sentenced to two years and three months at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday, 25 July.
He previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of blackmail, two counts of attempted fraud, and theft at the same court on Wednesday, 14 June.
Detective Inspector Arif Sharif, said: “Anour Sabbar is a dangerous and predatory individual who intentionally targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community, believing that shame or embarrassment would prevent his victims from coming forward.
“I commend the bravery shown by his victims in reporting these incidents. There may still be others out there who were exploited by Sabbar. Please get in touch with us – we are here to listen to you and will take what you say incredibly seriously. You will be treated with sensitivity and in confidence.”
Sabbar would seek out and meet men on Grindr. After consensual sex, Sabbar would state he was an escort and demand money from the victims. He also threatened to use violence or blackmail in order to intimidate the men, who were aged in their thirties.
The offences that he was sentenced for took place between August 2018 and March 2021. He stole a total of £870 from the victims during this time.
Once he got the money, Sabbar would block the victim’s profile on the app, which automatically removed the online conversation for both parties, making it difficult for him to be traced. Sabbar would swap his SIM cards and mobile phone number regularly, and often changed his hairstyle so he wasn’t recognised.
During one of the incidents in 2018, a victim refused to pay Sabbar so he told him that a group of people would visit his home and beat him up. In another incident, Sabbar blackmailed a victim to transfer him money and lied to him that the money had not gone through. He then even forged a letter purporting to be from the bank confirming this.
As these latest offences for which Sabbar has been convicted had all happened more than a year prior to this investigation, evidence such as CCTV was no longer available to police.
Detailed statements were taken from all of the victims, covering the various incidents, and how the previous media reporting, including a photograph, in January 2022 had enabled the victims to identify Sabbar. These allowed victims to identify him, even where he had given them a false name.
During one of the incidents, Sabbar had sipped from a glass inside a victim’s home. This allowed police forensic investigators to retrieve his DNA and link him to the offence.
Evidence was gathered from the multiple investigations, across various geographical areas of London, by Operation Fardella, under the ownership of the Central East BCU. Officers collated and built a detailed and cohesive case file, enabling the conviction of Sabbar of these crimes.
Superintendent Martin Kirby, the Met’s Lead for Hate Crime, said: “We do not tolerate the targeting of victims based on their sexuality or gender, or perceived sexuality or gender, and anyone who does come forward to disclose an allegation of crime of this nature will be treated sensitively and in confidence.
“We are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to protect the identities of victims in these cases, recognising that some victims may not identify as gay or bisexual or be ‘out’ to friends or relatives, perhaps because of cultural reasons. I can also fully appreciate that some victims may feel embarrassed about coming forward, or are perhaps nervous about speaking to a police officer due to other factors. We are doing all we can, by working closely with other agencies, to give victims the support that is right for them.
“The Met has also dedicated full-time LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers. LGBT+ people will have a single point of contact on every London borough who will work to rebuild those bonds of trust. The dedicated officers work closely with colleagues who already act in a voluntary capacity to provide support and advice to their peers and the public on LGBT+ issues in additional to their ‘day job’.”
If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim, please call 101 quoting Op Fardella. In an emergency always call 999.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also contact the charity Galop by calling their LGBT+ hate crime helpline on 020 7704 2040.
+ Anouar Sabbar was previously sentenced to five years’ imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 20 January.
He pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud, five counts of blackmail, robbery, and theft at the same court on 8 November 2021.
