ANOUAR SABBAR FROM SOUTHWARK JAILED FOR BLACKMAIL AND FRAUD IN LONDON

In a significant case that highlights the dangers of online dating scams and criminal deception, Anouar Sabbar, a 29-year-old man from Cole Street in Southwark, has been sentenced to a total of two years and three months in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The sentencing took place on Wednesday, 25 July, following a series of serious offences that spanned over two years and involved multiple victims.

Sabbar had previously admitted guilt to seven counts of blackmail, two counts of attempted fraud, and theft during a court hearing on Wednesday, 14 June. His criminal activities primarily involved using the popular dating app Grindr to target men, many of whom were in their thirties. Sabbar would arrange meetings with these men, and after engaging in consensual sexual encounters, he would falsely claim to be an escort. Using this guise, he would then demand money from his victims, often resorting to threats of violence or blackmail to coerce them into compliance.

The offences attributed to Sabbar occurred between August 2018 and March 2021. During this period, he managed to steal a total of £870 from his victims. Once he obtained the money, Sabbar would abruptly block the victim’s profile on Grindr, which automatically deleted the conversation history, making it difficult for authorities or victims to trace his actions. To evade detection, Sabbar frequently changed his SIM cards and mobile phone numbers, and he also altered his hairstyle regularly to avoid recognition.

One particularly alarming incident from 2018 involved Sabbar threatening a victim who refused to pay him. He told the man that a group of people would come to his home and assault him if he did not comply. In another case, Sabbar blackmailed a different victim into transferring money, falsely claiming that the payment had not gone through. To reinforce his threats, he even forged a letter purportedly from the bank, confirming the transaction failure.

As the investigation progressed, authorities faced challenges due to the time elapsed since the offences. Many of the incidents had occurred over a year prior, which meant that CCTV footage and other direct evidence were no longer available. However, detailed statements from all victims provided crucial insights into the various incidents. These statements, along with media reports and a photograph published in January 2022, enabled victims to identify Sabbar despite him using false names and disguises.

In one notable forensic breakthrough, police recovered DNA evidence from a glass Sabbar had sipped from inside a victim’s home. This evidence linked him directly to the offence, providing a vital piece of the case. The investigation, known as Operation Fardella and managed by the Central East BCU, involved multiple law enforcement agencies across different parts of London. Officers meticulously compiled a comprehensive case file, which ultimately led to Sabbar’s conviction for these crimes.

Overall, the case underscores the importance of vigilance in online interactions and the persistent efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders like Sabbar to justice. His actions not only caused financial harm but also instilled fear and trauma among his victims, highlighting the serious nature of these offences and the need for continued vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals from similar schemes.