Two Perth men who used social dating site Grindr to lure gay men to public spaces where they were bashed have been sent to jail.

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Twenty year old Perth man, James Joseph Katchan, has pleaded guilty to five violent assaults last month. Cody Parkinson, 19, also pleaded guilty to being involved in one the attacks.

Men were approached on Grindr and then lured to public spaces with the promise of sex. Once they arrived at the rendezvous they were attacked. One victim was left with bleeding on the brain, while another was struck with a modified baseball bat.

Yesterday in sentencing both men to imprisonment Judge Vicki Stewart said all of the men’s victims were seriously injured from the assaults to the point where their lives were endangered and they risked permanent injuries.

A psychologists report described Katchan as a troubled, violent person who was a risk to the community and had a sense of righteousness but had dropped out of school early, failed in getting jobs and lacked empathy.

During his trial Katchan’s legal representatives had claimed that he was motivated to attack the men because they had agreed to meet him with the intention of engaging in sexual activity even though he had described himself as being underage on the social media site.

According to WA Today prosecutors highlighted that Katchan had told a psychologist that he had also considered attacking drug dealers and had admitted that he was a self-righteous person who wanted to “exert power over others”.

The psychologist’s report said Parkinson had been remorseful about his actions.

Katchan was sentenced to six years behind bars, but will eligible for parole in four years. Parkinson was jailed for two years, but will be able to apply for parole in one year.

Despite the attacks occurring over a three month period WA Police have dismissed suggestions that they should have informed the LGBTI community that the violent assaults were occurring.

OIP Staff