Tinder rapist Glenn Hartland jailed for preying on women through app
A narcissistic sexual predator who preyed on women through an online dating app has been locked up for at least 11 years with a judge saying the community must be protected from him.
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A narcissistic sexual predator who preyed on women through an online dating app has been locked up for at least 11 years with a judge saying the community must be protected from him.
Glenn Hartland, 44, dubbed the Tinder rapist, raped three women and sexually assaulted another between 2014 and 2016.
“You can call that the Monica Lewinsky dress,” he told one victim after strangling and raping her at her South Yarra home when she tried to end their six-month relationship.
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In another case, he raped a former girlfriend when he went to her house to pick up jeans he had left there — all while his fiancee waited in the car outside.
He also forced another woman he was dating into a cubicle of a toilet at a St Kilda pub where he indecently assaulted her.
In sentencing him to 14 years and nine months with a non-parole period of 11 years, County Court judge Paul Higham condemned his behaviour.
“This was grave offending indeed, against four victims over a period in excess of two years,” Judge Higham said.
“You met all of your victims through dating apps. Such an online world provides a fertile landscape in which predators can roam.
“Once your victims fell into your orbit, they were made hostage to your dysfunctional personality.
“Their only purpose was to serve your self-aggrandising and manipulative emotional and sexual needs.”
Judge Higham said rape is “a most serious offence” and that he must deter others from behaving in the same way.
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“Rape has nothing to do with desire or sexual attraction. It is a crime of invasive violence,” Judge Higham said.
“I must give effect to protection of the community.
“I must express the community’s denunciation of your conduct.”
He also took into consideration the “lasting and deeply traumatic” impact on Hartland’s victims.
One of his victims was so traumatised by his actions that she took her life in February.
Outside court, his surviving victims bravely spoke of their relief their attacker had now been jailed and thanked their supporters.
They also called for other any other victims to come forward.
“Know that we will stand beside you,” they said.
“Never be ashamed of what happened to you nor allow it to define you.
“One very special woman's life was recently lost and our hearts will forever ache for her and her family. It would be a travesty to lose another woman to this man's violence.”
Hartland was placed on the sex offenders register for life.