A 19-year-old amateur boxer, Cooper Watt, has been sentenced to two years in jail with immediate parole for his role in luring an elderly man to a park in Deception Bay, Queensland, Australia, where he was assaulted and robbed. Watt pleaded guilty to robbery in company with personal violence.
The court heard that on January 27, 2025, Watt and two underage accomplices used the gay dating app Grindr to contact the 70-year-old victim. They posed as a 15-year-old boy, sent a naked image, and arranged to meet the man at a park. During the encounter, the group assaulted the victim, repeatedly calling him a "paedophile," and forced him to withdraw $3,000 in cash from a nearby ATM. The victim sustained multiple bruises and wounds.
Prosecutor Zachary Kaplan stated that the violent assault was influenced by a "manosphere epidemic" seen across social media, referencing online content that encourages young men to target individuals they deem to be pedophiles. Kaplan described the incident as a "hate crime" due to the group deliberately targeting a gay man.
Watt's defense lawyer characterized the assault as an "isolated, foolish incident" and highlighted Watt's rehabilitation efforts and compliance with bail conditions. The judge ordered Watt to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim and recorded a conviction.
This case follows another incident in Brisbane where a 27-year-old man, Oliver Conroy, was allegedly assaulted and carjacked, later dying from his injuries. Seven teenagers have been charged with his murder, facing mandatory life sentences under new Queensland laws if convicted.