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BBC
Warning - this article contains distressing content and references to suicide
It has emerged that police did not thoroughly investigate claims of blackmail against men using the gay dating app Grindr, the BBC has discovered. An investigation revealed five suspected blackmail incidents involving victims on Grindr in one area, with at least four cases tied to a single gang that remains unidentified. In a tragic occurrence, a supposed victim took his own life 24 hours after men confronted him at his residence, demanding the keys to his new Range Rover.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has instructed Hertfordshire Police, the responsible force, to assess whether "homophobic assumptions" influenced the investigative shortcomings. Hertfordshire Police stated they are "unable to discuss specific points" regarding the case — now reopened — but emphasized their dedication to "building and maintaining good working relationships with the LGBTQ+ communities." The BBC spoke to relatives of another gay victim who passed away after being targeted on Grindr, with charities indicating that there can be a lack of understanding regarding crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.
'It's a total blur'
In March 2024, Cameron Tewson was at his partner Scott Gough's home in Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire, when a group of six men appeared, demanding the keys to Mr. Gough's recent car purchase. The gang, described by Mr. Tewson as "white and in their mid 20s," dispersed when he called the police and informed a neighbor. However, they left a note addressed to the "owner of a white Range Rover" — Mr. Gough's car — including the license plate and a contact number. The note advised, "I think it's in your best interest to give me a call."
Mr. Tewson recounted that when Mr. Gough, 56, returned home, he was hesitant to discuss the incident, intending to handle the police matter personally. Mr. Tewson suspects his partner, employed at a car dealership, was concealing his use of Grindr — a dating app Mr. Gough frequented. The 32-year-old expressed, "I feel strongly he knew who they were, and he kept that from me."
The gang issued blackmail notes to Scott Gough.
The following day, Mr. Tewson discovered a handwritten version of Mr. Gough’s last will and testament and, while conversing with police on the phone, found his partner deceased in his bedroom. A coroner later concluded that Mr. Gough died by asphyxiation, with an inquest into the details of his death remaining open.
"It's a total blur," Mr. Tewson expressed. "The police were there, the neighbors were there. It felt as though I was witnessing it happen to someone else." Mr. Tewson noted that upon informing police of his suspicion that his boyfriend was using Grindr without his knowledge, he perceived a change in the officers' demeanor. "When it came up in conversations, I felt like it was just a complete disregard," he added.
Police records later indicated that at the time of Mr. Gough's death, the phone number used by the gang was already known to law enforcement and connected to a prior investigation into alleged blackmail involving Grindr. These records also revealed that officers traced the gang's vehicle registration number to a suspect, but no men identified were interviewed as potential culprits. No DNA or fingerprints were collected from the note left at Mr. Gough's home, nor was the gang’s discarded rubbish retrieved for DNA analysis. No arrests have been made in connection to the blackmail attempt.
Mr. Tewson lodged a complaint with the force's professional standards department and the IOPC regarding the case's handling. The IOPC report highlighted deficiencies in investigatory procedures.