A guy has been sentenced to life in prison for rapping five women he met on the Tinder dating app.
Tattooed Tom Rodwell, 31, of Acklam, Middlesbrough, harmed his victims sexually and physically, misled them, and made them feel useless, according to the evidence presented at Teesside Crown Court.
Judge Paul Watson QC, who handed down the sentence, stated that the offender was "addicted to a sense of control" he had over the women whose lives he had "ruined."
"You are a heartless, unfeeling sexual predator whose only interest is for your own enjoyment," the court said.
Rodwell, who formerly worked for HMRC, the Royal Navy in Scotland at an NHS contact centre, and was preparing to be a paramedic, broke victims' confidence and pushed them into sexual acts, according to a succession of allegations made to the court.
He acknowledged to a total of ten rapes against his five victims over a three-year period, as well as attempted rape and sexual assault.
During the court, it was revealed that the defendant, who has no prior convictions, was cleared of similar accusations in Scotland in 2018.
Rodwell met the women, some of whom were students, on the Tinder app.
"The defendant, via social media, would approach a number of single young ladies and, once in contact with them, he would physically and sexually assault them," prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court.
"Along with the physical and sexual abuse, he would psychologically influence them, making them feel useless in certain situations."
Rodwell informed his first victim he was like "hard sex," according to Mr. Bennett, who added, "It would become evident that the defendant did not realise or appear to care that he needed consent."
Rodwell confessed to rapping her four times.
He informed his second victim he planned to get her pregnant the first time they met, so he tossed her contraception pills in the trash, which she took.
Mr. Bennett claims he assaulted her the second time they met and sent her a Whatsapp message days later asking when he could "rape her again."
Rodwell had "gas-lighted" her and made her believe that she needed him, according to the third lady, who said she considered suicide after being raped by him multiple times.
Rodwell allegedly raped and violently hit the fourth lady in a hotel room, but he afterwards claimed he couldn't recall what happened and that his "ex liked it," according to Mr. Bennett.
Rodwell had informed the final victim from the beginning that he wanted to "own" and "choke" her, according to the court.
Rodwell's offence, according to defence attorney Andrew Turton, has no clear reason.
"He cannot explain to me or the court why he had these preoccupations and why there were deviant components in terms of control and aggression," Mr. Turton said. Alcohol appears to have played a role."
Rodwell was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years before being eligible for parole.
To keep him from contacting any of the ladies, restraining orders were issued.
Detective Constable Rick Sainsbury paid respect to the women who had seen him sentenced to life in prison after the sentencing.
"He is a dangerous guy whose selfish and evil activities have harmed his victims and their families for a long time."