Gay sex predator who posed as woman on Tinder to trick straight men into blindfolded sex jailed

Duarte Xavier, 33, was locked up for 15 years after posing as "Ana" on dating apps and using provocative images to lure his victims, aged between 26 and 45, to parks or his flat.

Sentencing him at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Vice-Judge Advocate General Michael Hunter said: "You have been found guilty of what can only be described as a campaign of deception and obtaining sex by pretending that you were a woman.

"By pretending that you were an attractive and sexually adventurous young woman, you tempted them into engaging in sex with you.

"I have taken into account your deliberate and cruel tactics that you carefully used to subject your victims to this activity.

"You have demonstrated no remorse or understanding of the position of your victims."


One of his victims was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the court heard.

Xavier, who committed his offences between February 2016 and April this year, was arrested twice and released pending inquiries but not charged until his third arrest in April.

He committed two offences while on bail.

The judge questioned whether Xavier was free to offend on bail because his victims were heterosexual men and therefore treated as less of a priority.

Addressing the police officer in the case after sentencing, he said: "It's very rare for a heterosexual male to be a victim of a sexual offence, as we know.

"I hope the fact that these victims were heterosexual males did not cause them to be put rather lower in the list of priorities."

Detective Constable Lucy Marsh, of Wandsworth Police, who took over the investigation after the original officer dealing with the matter lost evidence, rejected the suggestion.

She said a "waiting list" for downloading mobile phone evidence led to a delay in the investigation.

Xavier was reported to police after a victim whipped off his blindfold mid-encounter.

The court heard an impact statement from a victim who was diagnosed with PTSD after being used for Xavier's "own sick fantasy".

It said: "He was so convincing. It was supposed to be a bit of honest fun between two consenting adults.

"I now have extreme stress, anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I feel I'm carrying around a dark secret that will always be part of me. I hope one day I can learn to trust people again."

Xavier, of Wandsworth, South West London, was found guilty of six counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent in October following a trial.

The Metropolitan Police have appealed for any other potential victims of Xavier to get in touch.



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