Loading The attacks occurred in South Yarra, Elwood, St Kilda and Prahran. After one 2014 rape, prosecutor Andrew McKenry said, Hartland told the woman: ‘‘You can call that the Monica Lewinsky dress.’’ The following year, at the pub, the woman escaped from the cubicle but Hartland took her underwear and shoved it under his friend’s face. During a series of emotional victim impact statements read to the court, one victim spoke of being objectified, devalued and manipulated by a man she likened to ‘‘the devil’’, whose wild mood swings fluctuated between displays of lavish flattery and charm to anger, abuse and controlling behaviour.

‘‘I feel absolutely raped in every sense of the word: emotionally, financially, physically and sexually,’’ the woman said. Three of the women were in court, but Hartland's fourth victim took her life this year. Glenn Hartland also used the name 'Dylan' on Tinder. The 44-year-old was raped at her home in 2014 and her brother said in a statement ‘‘she could never come to terms with what happened’’, and slid into depression. The brother said the impact of his sister’s suffering was permanent, unforgettable and unforgivable, and asked judge Paul Higham to consider his family’s suffering.

The other women said their friend’s death had added to their own trauma. ‘‘She was a bright and brilliant person who should still be living,’’ one said. ‘‘My heart breaks for her family.’’ Two of the three women in court said they had considered suicide since the attacks. Mr McKenry said prosecutors had no evidence the woman’s suicide was attributable to the rape. Hartland, 44, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one of indecent assault. He also admitted harassing one of the women with text messages and distributing intimate images of her without her consent, and of breaching court orders.

He pleaded guilty in October but remained on bail despite the concerns of his victims, who were fearful while he was out of custody. Earlier this month he again admitted his crimes after withdrawing an application to change his plea. His intention to try and plead not guilty caused the women further upset. Defence counsel Greg Barns said the attempted change of plea was based on Hartland’s attempt to ‘‘delay the inevitable’’, and acknowledged he faced a long jail term. Hartland separately met the women on Tinder, Mr McKenry said, but in the lead-up to each rape, the women told Hartland they no longer wanted to be with him.

During two of the attacks, Hartland’s former partner sat outside the women’s homes in a car, Mr McKenry said. There is no suggestion she knew of the attacks. Mr Barns said Hartland was in a relationship with the woman between 2010 and 2014, but he abused alcohol and drugs after their break-up and began using dating apps to hunt for women. She remained supportive, Mr Barns said, but wasn’t in court on Monday. Hartland wore a band on his left ring finger while in the dock. Hartland’s victims have previously spoken of knowing him as Dylan, and that he lied about his jobs, hobbies and passions and became aggressive and evasive when his stories began to unravel. After their break-ups he told them he would self-harm.

In court on Monday, the group spoke of going from strong, proud and independent women to living reclusive lives and feeling isolation, shame, reduced worth and fear. ‘‘I felt like my spirit had been broken and I struggle to see how it would be back to normal again,’’ said one woman who has moved interstate but is determined to heal. Another said she thought being strong-willed and smart would always keep her safe, but her hyper-vigilance and constant fear made life for her and her son difficult. ‘‘My son and I have a right to feel safe and we don’t,’’ she said. Hartland has previously served two two-month jail terms for contacting two of the women while on bail, once by shouting at one in the street and the second time by engaging with one on social media.

Mr McKenry called on the judge to consider the danger Hartland posed to women. "This is the type of offence that is very much in the public consciousness," he said. Mr Barns said Hartland was abandoned by his mother as a baby and made a ward of the state, and said his client had reported to police being abused as a child by men he lived with. He had since been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. Hearing the victims speak meant ‘‘the penny has finally dropped’’, Mr Barns said, and he was ‘‘shattered’’ by the damage he caused. But Judge Higham questioned whether Hartland had any insight or remorse in his dealings with a psychologist, where he had self-justified his crimes.

He will be sentenced on May 10. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636, or the Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817.