A Melbourne man has admitted demanding $1300 from a user of mobile phone gay dating app Grindr in return for not telling the victim's girlfriend.
Timothy Ruge, 34, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand for money with menace.
Court documents allege the victim was using Grindr "to chat and flirt" on March 2 this year when he selected Ruge's profile.
Ruge allegedly responded with an image of the face of the victim's fiancee, commenting: "She's pretty, you cheating bastard".
The victim apologised, but Ruge responded: "Cardless cash me $500 now, then $500 in 30 mins ARE WE CLEAR", followed by "And I vanish", the documents claim.
The victim said he didn't have the money, but he attempted to transfer $200 online, claiming the program "keeps crashing".
He told Ruge, "she handles all my money" but Ruge allegedly responded "tick tock I'll ask her for it then shall I. Tick tock".
The pair then arranged to meet at Southern Cross Station, with the victim handing Ruge $200, who deleted the messages, documents allege.
However, later that afternoon, Ruge allegedly messaged again, asking for a further $300.
Police searched Ruge's apartment on May 3, arresting him the next day.
The victim said in a statement that after he met Ruge: "I went home feeling like s***. I was freaking out my missus was going to find out."
"I am still on my toes. I still feel helpless and confused."
After his initial court appearance in May, Ruge told AAP the matter involved "unfortunate circumstances".
Ruge, who is on bail, will appear at the County Court on November 9 for a plea hearing, ahead of sentence.
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