A 23 year-old Australian man has been jailed after using gay dating app Grindr to target and steal from men.

Corey Draper, 23, has been sentenced to 17 months after targeting two men on Grindr, coaxing them into a meet-up, and then stealing from them.

Last year, on February 9 2014, Draper met a 28 year-old man from Grindr, who gave him $200 for the drug ice. He then robbed him of an extra $270 and his mobile phone. Draper told the victim he was a member of a gang and would kill him if he reported him to police.

However, the victim did contact police and they found Draper’s DNA on the victim’s wallet.

The next day, Draper met a 48 year-old man, who picked him up. After a time, the man grew uncomfortable before Draper pulled out a knife.

“Just do it or I will kill you. I have killed before,” Draper said.

This victim also managed to get away and call the police – Draper’s DNA was found in the victim’s car and he was arrested a few days later.

Acting Judge Greg Hosking said Draper’s offences “involved a significant degree of planning.”

In sentencing Draper, Hosking took into account a further offence of stealing that occurred on February 11, 2014 – Draper stole from the apartment of another man he met on Grindr.

Grindr has been in the news of late as many men have been targeted by criminals on the dating app. In February, Cork natives were warned against an onslaught of attacks against people who were being targeted on the app.