Rapist stalked city streets in search of victims before attacking two lone women.

Rapist Amanuel Tsegay, 37, Jailed for 12 Years

Amanuel Tsegay, 37, of Lords Avenue, Salford, has been sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for raping a young woman and assaulting others in Preston.

Tsegay, who travelled from Manchester to Preston by train, was found to have been stalking the city streets in search of victims on September 22, 2019.

He was caught on CCTV footage released by Lancashire Police, which showed him targeting vulnerable women in the city center.

Tsegay was also handed a six-year extended licence period after a judge deemed him a dangerous offender. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

"Amanuel Tsegay is a sexual predator and it is clear from CCTV footage that he was prowling around the centre of Preston looking for vulnerable women," said Det Insp Fiona Jackson of Lancashire Police.

"He raped one young woman, forced another woman into a kiss and made lewd comments about performing a sex act towards two others."

The 18-year-old rape victim was targeted by Tsegay at around 4.20am after she became separated from her friends following a night out in the city.

She was walking alone on Lancaster Road when she was confronted by Tsegay near the Harris Museum. He led her to grassland between the Guild Hall and the bus station, where he raped her.

In a victim impact statement read in court, the victim said: "Before that night I was happy, I liked to meet new people and make new friends. I didn't have any worries and now that has all changed."

She has been unable to sleep since the attack, suffers recurring nightmares, and has been forced to give up her job due to anxiety.

Another victim, aged 19, was grabbed by Tsegay who forced himself on her after she offered him some food. She now fears leaving her own home.