‘Used some force’: Brisbane Uber driver accused of Grindr rape

A 27-year-old Brisbane Uber driver has faced court after being accused of forcibly raping a man he met on dating app Grindr.

The alleged rape occurred after the two men on dating app Grindr. Picture: File

An Uber driver accused of forcibly raping a man he met on the dating app Grindr in Brisbane has been denied bail.

The 27-year-old Indian national, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faced Brisbane Magistrates court this morning charged with rape, stealing and a breach of bail.

Police will allege that when the man arrived at the other man’s Carindale home the complainant was clear he did not intend to engage in sexual intercrouse.

Magistrate Beleinda Merrin said police alleged the defendant at some point penetrated the man “then persisted to do so over the complainant repeatedly saying no and then used some force during the course of that sexual intercourse.”

Police will allege the defendant apologised afterwards but when told by the complainant that he was going to call the police he is accused of grabbing the man’s phone and fleeing.

Legal Aid duty lawyer Bill Siganto applied for bail arguing his client may have a defence of consent or mistaken consent.

Grindr is the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.

He said the two men met after exchanging messages on Grindr – the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people – and his client was invited over for a consensual sexual encounter.

“(My client) sends to the complainant ‘to be honest I want to f**k you’,” he said.

“The response from the complainant, I’m instructed, is ‘let’s do it’.

“So there’s the possibility of a consent defence or even a mistake of facts as to consent defence.”

The court heard the man was on bail at the time of the alleged offences. The man had been granted bail in September 2020 for two counts each of common assault and sexual assault, the court heard.

Mr Siganto said his client was later found not guilty on the sexual assault charges and the common assault charges were still before the court. Mr Signato said his client would abide by a condition not to use Grindr if granted bail.

Bail was opposed by Sgt Michael Read who noted the man had allegedly snatched the complainant’s phone on learning the police would be called.

“Those are the actions of a guilty person, not in fact, an innocent person,” he said.

“He’s an unacceptable risk of reoffending and further the strength of the case indicates he should be kept in custody on that basis.”

Ms Merrin refused bail and adjourned the case to February 20

Originally published as ‘Used some force’: Brisbane Uber driver accused of Grindr rape