Men jailed for imprisoning victim they met on social networking site Grindr

Two men from Northampton have been jailed for six years each after falsely imprisoning a man they met on the social networking site Grindr.

Jordan Bridge-Simmons, 20, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of robbery, actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.

Tyrone Platt, aged 20, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of false imprisonment. He had previously pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and robbery.

During the trial, the jury heard details of a complicated robbery that started with Bridge-Simmons luring the victim to the house was staying at, in Home Farm Close, Northampton after meeting him on Grindr in July 2015

The victim was shown round the house by Bridge-Simmons, however when they reached a bedroom, he was pushed inside and the lights turned off.

The victim was repeatedly kicked and punched before Platt walked him to a cash machine and made him withdraw £300.

When they returned to the house, they found that Bridge-Simmons had stolen the victim’s car and crashed it into a Mini Cooper which had in turn crashed into a nearby house.

While Platt admitted robbery and actual bodily harm, he denied false imprisonment. Platt argued that he had been a male escort and that sex had been discussed during the course of the evening.

Detective Cathy O’Connor, who led the investigation, said: “I am pleased that the jury found these two men guilty for committing awful crimes against the victim, who feared for his life during the attack.

"This was a premeditated and perverse crime, but thanks to the bravery of the victim in reporting this they no longer have the freedom to commit such crimes against anyone else.”