A MAN has been warned he faces a long prison term after being found guilty today of sex attacks on two women by the canal bank in Burnley.

Preston Crown Court heard Nizam Ahmed, 38, committed his crimes at a time he had no legal right to remain in this country.

He claimed that both young women, who had worked as prostitutes, had consented to what he called ‘business’ with him. He denied using force.

Police launched an investigation after a 23-year-old woman reported she was raped as she walked home along the Leeds Liverpool canal bank, off Colne Road, in September last year.

This was linked to the attempted rape of an 18-year-old woman in the same area last August.

Ahmed, who was living at Arley Gardens, had denied one charge of attempted rape and another of rape.

He was convicted unanimously yesterday after a week-long trial.

The prosecution had said he had engaged each of the two females in conversation before grabbing them around the throats and dragging them to a secluded spot.

His DNA was recovered in both incidents. The defendant came to this country from Bangladesh in 2002, on a six-month stay, looking for a better life.

Afterwards, he remained here, not claiming benefits, but doing restaurant work.

Judge Christopher Cornwall told the defendant: “The only sentence there can be in these circumstances is a long custodial sentence.”

Speaking after the case, Det Ch Insp Neil Esseen said: “These were cowardly, unprovoked attacks on two vulnerable women and I am very pleased that Ahmed has been found guilty.”

He will be sentenced on July 15.

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