Man Jailed For Blackmailing Victim He Met On Dating Site

A violent Cardiff man who blackmailed someone he met on a gay dating website has today been jailed for five years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Liam Stephen Hatcher, 25, of Madoc Road, Tremorfa, threatened to tell police the man he had met online had raped him, unless the victim paid him £6,000. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

When the man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was unable to produce the cash demanded of him, he was subjected to a horrendous ordeal by Hatcher. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The victim was beaten, driven in his own vehicle to several cashpoints where he was forced to withdraw cash. Valuable items were also stolen from his home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hatcher pleaded guilty to blackmail at an earlier court appearance and was today told he will serve five years behind bars. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detective Sergeant James Dowler praised the courage of the victim in reporting the case and supporting the complex investigation, and urged others in a similar position to come forward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DS Dowler said: “This was a particularly vicious crime and I hope today’s sentence offers some closure to the victim who has demonstrated immense courage throughout this investigation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Liam Hatcher targeted his victim using a gay dating website and preyed on the fact that he is not openly gay. The victim not only feared being outed by the defendant, but also being falsely accused of rape by a man he had met for consensual sexual relations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While the majority of people using dating websites do so for genuine purposes, it is vital that people are aware that not everyone they meet online is who they say they are. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Some people use fake identities to lure people while others, as in this case, reveal their true personality once they have their victim firmly within their grasp. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our main advice to the public is to use these sites with caution, but should they find themselves a victim of crime, whether it is sexual assault, blackmail or sextortion, or other, it is vital that they report it to the police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I can assure them their report will be taken seriously and treated with the upmost sensitivity and confidentiality.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​