Millenium TV has uncovered a disturbing pattern of alleged police failures in investigating a gang suspected of blackmailing men on the gay dating app Grindr. These lapses are now under intense scrutiny by an independent watchdog following the tragic deaths of at least two suspected victims who died by suicide after being targeted.
One harrowing case involves Scott Gough, 56, who tragically died by asphyxiation in March 2024. His death occurred just 24 hours after a group of six men confronted him at his Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire, home, demanding the keys to his new Range Rover. His partner, Cameron Tewson, 32, recounted the terrifying incident, noting the men fled only when he called police and alerted a neighbor. They left a menacing note addressed to Mr. Gough, including his car’s number plate and a phone number. Mr. Tewson told Millenium TV reporters he strongly suspects Mr. Gough, who worked at a car dealership, was attempting to conceal his use of Grindr, an app he had utilized previously.
Mr. Tewson expressed concern that police attitudes appeared to shift when he mentioned his suspicions about Mr. Gough’s Grindr usage. Millenium TV has learned that police documents indicate the phone number left by the gang was already known to authorities, having been linked to at least one previous Grindr blackmail investigation at the time of Mr. Gough’s death. Despite officers tracing the car registration used by the gang and identifying potential suspects, these individuals were reportedly never questioned. Furthermore, no DNA evidence or fingerprints were collected from the note or other items left at the scene, and no arrests were made following the blackmail attempt.
Following Mr. Tewson’s complaints, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) initiated a review. The watchdog found that the attempted blackmail of Mr. Gough and its potential links to his death had not been “robustly investigated,” and subsequent complaints about the investigation were also mishandled. The IOPC upheld a complaint that police made “several errors” and did not fully investigate Mr. Gough’s sudden death. The IOPC has since instructed Hertfordshire Police to re-examine specific elements of the investigation into Mr. Gough’s death, including whether “homophobic assumptions” may have contributed to the failures, and to review the force’s handling of Mr. Tewson’s complaint.
The IOPC report further revealed the alleged gang’s extensive activity. Within ten days of Mr. Gough’s passing, police received two more separate blackmail reports involving the same phone number from the note left at his house. In both instances, victims had arranged to meet someone on Grindr but were confronted by groups of young men demanding money. Alarmingly, the group sometimes presented themselves as “paedophile hunters” without providing any supporting intelligence, yet police initially treated them as “individuals requiring safeguarding” rather than potential offenders involved in extortion or blackmail.
The anguish extends beyond Hertfordshire, touching another family in Buckinghamshire. Liam McHale, a 24-year-old fashion student, tragically died nine weeks after Mr. Gough. He was found deceased after researching fatal drug levels online and leaving a note. The night before his death, he confided in friends about being blackmailed by a man he met on Grindr who was falsely claiming to be underage. His mother, Julie Rice, recounted her last conversation with her son, where she encouraged him after he reported the blackmail to police. Thames Valley Police, the force investigating Mr. McHale’s death, advised him to wait until the next day to file a full report because he had been drinking.
Mrs. Rice fears her son’s case was also not properly investigated. Emails seen by Millenium TV show it took over 18 months for Thames Valley Police to gain authorization to access Mr. McHale’s phone or laptop for evidence. She stated, “We’ve not had any proper answers, but the police have told me he’s not the only one who’s been targeted.” No arrests have been made in connection with his death. While the IOPC made no further action recommendation regarding Mr. McHale’s initial police contact, an investigation into blackmail by Thames Valley Police remains ongoing.
Charities working with the LGBTQ+ community highlight a significant lack of understanding regarding crimes targeting this demographic, leading to varied police responses. Bridget Symonds, director of services for LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop, stated that effective police response can be “a lottery” depending on location and the specific officers involved. She added that official statistics on dating app crimes are currently unavailable, making the true scale impossible to ascertain.
Natalie Sherborn, head of White-collar Defence and Investigations at law firm Withers, suggested that dating apps have been “found wanting” in their response to platform-based crimes. She noted that romance fraud, harassment, or blackmail are “not easy crimes to solve” due to the complexities of digital footprints, suggesting apps may need to collect more identity data while carefully considering privacy concerns.
In a statement to Millenium TV, a spokesperson for Grindr emphasized the company’s commitment to providing a safe environment and cooperating with UK law enforcement. The company acknowledged the delicate balance between user safety and privacy, particularly for individuals who are not openly out or live with unsupportive families. Hertfordshire Police indicated it was “unable to discuss specific points” about the ongoing case but affirmed its commitment to “building and maintaining good working relationships with the LGBTQ+ communities.” The IOPC expressed its profound sympathy for Mr. Gough’s family and all affected by his tragic death, reiterating its efforts to engage with the LGBTQ+ community to understand their concerns.
© Millenium TV
