A VIOLENT rapist has been jailed for 17 years with an extended seven-year licence period for terrorising, violating and degrading two women.

James Paul was labelled “aggressive” with no remorse or victim empathy when he was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court.

“You are a very dangerous man who has been prepared to use violence,” Judge Jonathan Rose told him.

Paul, 35, of Church Street, Keighley, was convicted by a jury in December of five counts of rape, two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, kidnap and false imprisonment.

Prosecutor Christopher Rose said Paul had forcibly raped the women as well as physically attacking them.

He had tried to strangle his first victim and kicked her in the face.

Two years later, he had kicked, punched and bitten the second woman, held a knife to her throat and threatened to stab her.

The first woman said Paul had kicked her in the head. He had thrown her on to a bed, grabbed her wrists and raped her.

The second woman said he forcibly raped her as she cried and screamed, before head-butting her.

She said in her victim impact statement that she was now depressed and anxious and had trouble sleeping.

Paul’s barrister, Abigail Langford, said he had physical problems and suffered with depression.

He had been in custody on remand since October, 2019, throughout the coronavirus lockdown.

Judge Rose said that after raping, attacking and terrifying his first victim, Paul may have felt “empowered” to commit similar offences against the second woman.

He had subjected the second woman to “a terrifying and brutal assault”.

After the hearing, police welcomed the sentence handed down to Paul.

They also praised the “incredible strength” of the victims for their courage in helping to bring him to justice.

Detective Constable Julia Coates, of Bradford Safeguarding Unit, said: “This man is incredibly dangerous and subjected two women to horrific ordeals, leaving them in fear of their lives.

“They found the bravery and strength to come forward to the police and report his crimes and allowed us to investigate and ultimately take a dangerous man off the streets.”