Sadistic thug raped one woman and tied up another with tape in horrific attacks.

John Harding, a 30-year-old man from Newport, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for two brutal attacks on young women.

Harding was found guilty of two counts of rape, assault by penetration, two counts of intentional strangulation, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of false imprisonment, and making threats to kill.

The court heard that Harding had a long history of violence against women, including previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, and witness intimidation.

In the first attack, Harding threw his victim to the ground, stood on her head, kicked and punched her, and strangled her. He then raped her twice and performed a sex act on her, causing her "extreme pain" and leaving her unconscious.

In the second attack, Harding assaulted a teenage girl, throwing her to the ground, kicking and standing on her head, and strangling her until she lost consciousness. He then tied her up with tape, threatened to kill her and two passing men, and held a pair of scissors to her throat.

The judge, Jeremy Jenkins, described Harding as a "danger to young women" and said that "in your company no young lady is truly safe."

Harding will serve at least two-thirds of the custodial sentence before he will be considered for parole. He was also made subject to two restraining orders and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.