New Zealand Teens Sentenced for Luring and Assaulting Gay Men Via Grindr in Series of Hate Crimes

In Tauranga, New Zealand, a group of young men calling themselves the "Tauranga Paedophile Catchers" orchestrated a series of assaults on gay men lured through the Grindr dating app. Between August and September 2024, they created fake profiles on Grindr, arranged meetings with victims at private homes, parks, and streets—often late at night—and ambushed them with punches, kicks, stomps, and slaps. In one incident, a victim was forced to strip naked, and chases ensued when others tried to flee, with attackers sometimes wearing balaclavas. Videos of these assaults were edited into montages with music and subtitles, then posted on social media, causing victims considerable emotional distress.

The ringleaders—Thomas Bull, Ethan Jeffs, and Patrick Moloney, aged 18 or 19 at the time—coordinated via a Snapchat group named "Freaky Group," where they planned "hunts" for so-called pedophiles, drawing inspiration from the U.S. TV show "To Catch a Predator". However, no evidence supported their vigilante claims; instead, courts ruled the attacks targeted gay men specifically. Judge Stephen Coyle, sentencing Jeffs in November 2024, rejected defense arguments that Grindr was used merely because it was free, stating, "It was the targeting of gay men and the clear conclusion I have reached is that this was a hate crime." Judge Melinda Mason earlier described Bull's filmed taunts as "disturbing" and indicative of a "real hate crime." Judge Paul Geoghegan called Moloney's assaults "despicable and cowardly."

At least 13 assaults were documented, though not all victims were identified, with injuries including bleeding, bruises, grazes, and cuts to faces. One video posted by Bull named a man on the Child Sex Offenders Register, including his workplace and vehicle details, leading to the victim being "jumped" days later. All three defendants faced charges of assault, injuring with intent to injure, and posting harmful digital communications in Tauranga District Court. They received youth discounts and guilty plea credits but avoided jail time, with sentences reflecting their ages and potential for reform.

LGBTQ+ advocates have condemned the attacks as part of a broader pattern of violence against gay and bisexual men using dating apps. Grindr, a platform primarily for gay, bisexual, and queer men, has faced scrutiny for safety features, though this case centers on perpetrator misuse rather than app design. Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere; in Australia's Victoria state, police detained 35 people in 2024 for using gay dating apps to assault and rob queer men. These events underscore risks for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking connections in spaces where they can be open about their identities.

New Zealand courts emphasized the homophobic nature of the crimes. Judge Coyle noted to Jeffs that while comments implied pedophile targeting, they could not be divorced from anti-gay motivation: "It wasn’t the targeting of men generally... it was the targeting of gay men." For Moloney, a new father at sentencing, Judge Coyle highlighted a lack of remorse, stating he enjoyed "humiliating and disrespecting other people" and uploading footage. Despite stern rebukes, judges offered hope: Coyle told Jeffs his youth meant he could be defined by future actions if he recognized the "stupid" behavior.

Bull received a sentencing indication from Judge Mason in June 2024, Moloney from Judge Geoghegan in August, and Jeffs from Judge Coyle in November. Unknown associates remain at large, suggesting the group was larger. Community leaders, including those from New Zealand's LGBTQ+ organizations, have called for stronger hate crime protections and app safety education. The case parallels global concerns, like a 2025 U.S. appeals court ruling shielding Grindr from liability in a teen assault case under Section 230, sparking debates on platform responsibility.

This incident reveals how social media amplifies harm against LGBTQ+ people, with videos spreading trauma beyond physical assaults. Victims' emotional distress was a key sentencing factor, reinforcing that such acts violate human dignity. As Grindr and similar apps remain vital for queer connections, especially in conservative areas, enhanced reporting tools and law enforcement collaboration are critical. New Zealand authorities continue investigating related posts to prevent recurrence.