A teenager has been jailed after he stole cash from an older man he met on a dating site.
Ashley Jackson, 19, arranged to meet the victim, who was in his 40s, on November 19, 2021.
They met online and spent time together at a property in Hackney, East London.
Jackson then pulled a knife from his sleeve and demanded £180 in cash before calling a taxi and leaving the property.
He was arrested four days later and pleaded guilty to robbery at Snaresbrook Crown Court in Redbridge just before Christmas.
The court handed down a three-year prison sentence for robbery yesterday and a six-month concurrent sentence for possession of a bladed knife.
Detective Constable Alex O’Sullivan said: ‘The effects of becoming a victim of robbery, particularly where there is threat of violence, run far deeper than a loss of cash or property – they can be traumatic and long-lasting.
‘Jackson has now been removed from the community, where he can no longer victimise the public.
‘I sincerely hope this brings the victim the sense that justice has been served.’
Incidents up and down the UK have seen people meeting those they believe to be romantic or sexual partners only to be robbed, carjacked or worse.
A 2019 investigation by BBC 5 Live Investigates found that crimes involving dating apps doubled in some parts of the UK.
Among the most high-profile cases was Stephen Port, the ‘Grindr Killer’ jailed for murdering at least four men and committing multiple rapes linked with the app.
While only a tiny number of dates end this way, Get Safe Online advises people to ‘be smart and stay safe’.
‘Going on a date with someone new is an exciting step in a relationship, but continue being careful,’ the internet safety website says.
“The safest plan is to meet somewhere public and stay somewhere public.
‘Make your own way there and back and don’t feel pressured to go home with your date. If you feel ready to move to a private environment, make sure your expectations match your date’s.’
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