Man accused of three Grindr date rapes says he just had ‘heart to heart’ with one of the men
Grindr is being used to sell drugs (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
A man who has been accused of raping three men and drugging another he met on Grindr has said that he was just having “a heart to heart” with one of his alleged victims.
Insurance worker Sam Ashley is on trial in Portsmouth for allegedly raping three men he met on dating app Grindr, and allegedly drugging another man with chemsex drug GHB.
Police have said that Ashley was “shocked” when he was arrested for the suspected crimes that took place between June and December 2016, and told police that he just had a “heart to heart” with one of the victims, reports Portsmouth News.
Grindr (Leon Neal/Getty)
“I advised him of the allegations made against him by a male in Dorset,” said Sergeant Andrea Hayward at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday.
“I arrested him on suspicion of rape and attempted rape and cautioned him. He said to me he was shocked by the allegation. He said he went to Dorset on Monday and Wednesday and had a good heart-to-heart,” she told the court.
The latest alleged victim to provide evidence accused Ashley of raping him and then returning to his home to spike him with chemsex drug GHB two days later.
(DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty)
During the first date, the victim said Ashley encouraged him to come home by saying that he had terminal colon cancer, said Portsmouth News.
He said Ashley proceeded to have sex with him although he “lost count of the number of times he said no,” reports The Times.
Two days later, the victim said that Ashley returned to his home after “emotionally blackmailing” him.
He said that Ashley had come into his house with a “small syringe with a pink plunger.”
After sipping a drink with a “horrendous” taste prepared by Ashley, the victim said he began to be violently sick.
The victim then placed himself in the recovery position and felt Ashley attempt to have sex with him minutes later.
The accused has denied four rapes, two attempted rapes, and four charges of administering a substance with intent to four men.
