A man has been sentenced to life in prison for rapping five ladies he met on the Tinder dating app.

Tom Rodwell, 31, of Acklam, Middlesbrough, harmed his victims sexually and physically, tricked them, and made them feel worthless, according to the evidence presented at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Paul Watson QC, who handed down the sentence, stated that the defendant was “addicted to a sense of power” he had over the women whose lives he had “ruined.”

The judge said to him, “You are a callous, unfeeling sexual predator whose only concern is for your own gratification.”

Rodwell, who worked previously for HMRC, the Royal Navy in Scotland at an NHS call center, and was training to be a paramedic, shattered victims’ confidence and forced them into sexual acts, according to a series of statements made to the court.

He agreed to a total of ten rapes against his five victims over a three-year period, as well as sexual assault and attempted rape.

During the hearing, it was revealed that the defendant, who has no prior convictions, was acquitted of similar charges in Scotland in 2018.

Rodwell met the ladies, some of whom were students, through the Tinder app.

The prosecutor, Richard Bennett, told the court: “The defendant, using social media, would contact a number of single young women and once in contact with them, he would physically and sexually abuse them.

“In addition to the physical and sexual abuse, he would psychologically manipulate them and in some cases make them feel worthless.”

Rodwell told his first victim he was into “rough sex,” according to Mr. Bennett, who added, “It would become apparent that the defendant did not realise or appear to care that he needed consent.”

Rodwell confessed to rapping her four times.

He told his second victim he wanted to get her pregnant the first time they met and threw her contraceptive pills in the trash, which she mistook for a joke.

Mr. Bennett claims he raped her the second time they met and then sent her a Whatsapp message days later asking when he could “rape her again.”

The third woman stated that she considered suicide after being raped several times by Rodwell and that he had “gas-lighted” her and made her feel as if she needed him.

Mr. Bennett said the fourth woman claimed Rodwell raped her in a hotel and then repeatedly hit her, but he later claimed he couldn’t remember what happened but said his “ex liked it.”

According to the final victim, Rodwell told her from the start that he wanted to “own her” and “choke her.”

Rodwell’s lawyer, Andrew Turton, said there was no clear explanation for his actions, but alcohol was a factor.

Mr. Andrew said, “He is unable to explain to me or to the court why he had these preoccupations and why there were deviant elements in terms of control and violence. It appears alcohol played a part.”

Rodwell was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum period of 12 years before being viewed for parole.

To keep him from trying to contact any of the women, restraining orders were issued.

Detective Constable Rick Sainsbury paid tribute to the women who have seen him sentenced to life in prison after the judgment.

He said, “Rodwell’s offending is despicable.

“He is a dangerous individual and his selfish and depraved actions have caused lasting harm to his victims and their families.”