Gay man ambushed and assaulted by group in Tauranga after meeting on Grindr, leading to ongoing trauma and depression

Summary

A gay man was lured to a Tauranga house using a fake profile on the dating app Grindr and then ambushed, attacked, and abused by a group of young men. The victim was surrounded, kicked, threatened, and filmed during the assault, with one attacker, Ryan William Purves, 18, repeatedly kicking him and threatening a police officer. The attackers called the victim a derogatory name for gay men and falsely accused him of being a paedophile. The victim, who has permanent name suppression, described the incident as a hate crime and reported ongoing trauma, including nightmares, panic attacks, and depression. Purves pleaded guilty to assault and assaulting police and was sentenced to community work and supervision. The victim impact statement highlighted the lasting emotional and psychological scars from the attack.