A VIOLENT Carlisle rapist has been handed an 18-year prison sentence for brutal sex attacks against two women.

Ian Beal, 55, was handed the lengthy jail term at the city's crown court on Friday afternoon.

Beal had been convicted by a jury after a trial earlier this year of raping two women several years apart.

He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting one of his victims on more than one occasion.

During the trial, jurors heard interviews both women gave to police.

One described a particularly violent incident. "He raped me. I was crying 'no'. I was begging him to leave me alone. But he just carried on anyway," she told an officer. "I was saying 'no'. I was crying 'no'.

The woman added: "He knew I didn't want it."

Both of Beal's victims provided statements which were summarised during the sentencing hearing by prosecutor Tim Evans, and detailed the impact of Beal's shocking offending on their lives.

Jailing Beal, previously of Spencer Street, Carlisle, Judge James Adkin concluded: "You are a dangerous offender."

Beal must serve an extended five-year licence period, and will only be considered for release from custody after serving two-thirds of the jail term. He must sign the sex offenders' register for life.