Tinder rapist Glenn Hartland in jail after abandoning bid to reverse guilty plea
A serial rapist who used Tinder to prey on his victims is behind bars after abandoning a legal fight to reverse his guilty plea. Glenn Anthony Hartland was barely audible as he confessed to his predatory crimes, with a judge ordering him to speak up.
VIC News
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A serial rapist who used Tinder to prey on his victims is behind bars after abruptly abandoning his legal fight to reverse his guilty plea.
Glenn Anthony Hartland pleaded guilty in the County Court this afternoon to three counts of rape and one charge of indecent assault against four women between 2014 and 2016.
Hartland, 44, also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a court order and using a carriage service to harass one of his victims.
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Known as Melbourne’s “Tinder rapist”, Hartland had already admitted to the charges in October last year, before changing his mind and applying to have his guilty plea thrown out last month.
Today he abandoned that application and was remanded in custody.
Wearing a ski jacket and clutching an asthma puffer, Hartland was barely audible as he entered his plea and was asked to speak up by Judge Paul Higham.
“There must be no ambiguity … I must be able to hear you,” Judge Higham said.
Defence lawyer Brett Barratt attempted to have his client’s bail extended, saying Hartland “had not had time to get his affairs in order” since deciding to vacate his plea only a few hours earlier.
But his application was denied as Judge Higham said he was no longer just accused of the crime and he was immediately taken into custody.
Two of his victims who were present in court turned and watched as he was led away.
Outside court, the women said it “had been a long time coming”.
“I will sleep tonight for the first time in a long time,” one of the women said.
Hartland, who often went by the name of Dylan in his online dating profile, claimed to be a fitness fanatic who participated in triathlons and told women he was a lawyer and a professional snowboarder.
“He is a prolific predator … a master manipulator,” one of his victims said today.
“Justice is making sure other women are protected from him,” she said.
Hartland was face a plea hearing later this month.