Parolee accused of drugging, raping and stealing from man he met on dating app Grindr

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses an alleged sexual assault.

A young man already on parole for a Grindr-related crime has been refused bail after being accused of drugging and raping another man he met over the gay dating app.

Shae Frank Charles Elliott, 22, was sentenced to jail for handcuffing and robbing a different man he met over the app last year before he was hauled back before the ACT Magistrates Court again on Monday (1 August) to face fresh charges.

Court documents allege the complainant initially had consensual sex with Elliott in Canberra after matching with him over the app in July 2022.

Later, on 28 July, they allegedly met up again and took ketamine and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), even though the complainant was apprehensive about taking the latter.

It is alleged they agreed to have sex again, but Elliott made the complainant consume an unknown amount of GHB which made him lose consciousness within one minute.

Police say when the complainant allegedly became unconscious, he could not provide consent for sex.

The complainant woke up the next day feeling sick and found one used condom in his bedroom he said he could not account for so he believed sex had taken place.

He also alleged several items had been stolen from his home, including $400 cash, luxury items including clothing and a watch, as well as Calvin Kleine perfume.

The complainant went to the police and told them the last thing he remembered from that night was Elliott putting on a condom and giving him the GHB.

Elliott handed himself into police and told them he met the complainant over Snapchat or Grindr. He claimed that two other men had turned up at the complainant’s home on the night in question and it “got weird” so he left and went to the gym.

He was charged with sexual intercourse without consent, burglary and theft when he appeared over audio-visual link in court on Monday but did not enter pleas.

His Legal Aid lawyer asked for him to be granted bail. She said he lived in Kambah with a friend, was unemployed and had referred himself for rehabilitation.

She said his bail conditions could include him not using Grindr.

But prosecutor Tahlia Drumgold argued he had a lengthy criminal history, including a history of violence, and these new alleged offences had occurred after he had been paroled in May 2022.

She said the complainant was frightened and worried as Elliott knows where he lives.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston refused bail, noting his history of offending, the fact he was on parole and said he had “no faith” Elliott would comply with bail conditions.

He was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to 15 August.