A MAN who carried out two separate sex attacks on teenage girls within the space of two hours has been sentenced to life in prison.

Martin Eatough, 24, of Mitton Street, Osaldtwistle, followed a 19-year-old home before indecently grabbing hold of her. Less than two hours later he raped a 15-year-old near Blackburn town centre and subjected her to other offences.

Judge Edward Slinger, sentencing Eatough at Preston Crown Court, said the circumstances of the case were those every woman dreads.

Eatough had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the 19-year-old and offences of rape, attempted rape and kidnap with intent to commit a sex offence on the 15-year-old.

His crimes were carried out in June last year in Blackburn.

Prosecutor Simon Mintz said the 19-year-old had been walking home from a nightclub at 2.30am when she became aware of a man following her. She lost sight of him after a short while but he clearly followed her the mile-and-a-half to her home.

The teenager was looking for her door keys when he approached her from behind, put a hand over her mouth and indecently grabbed her with his other hand.

She later told police: "I was in great fear for my personal safety. I felt trapped.

"His arms were around me and he was invading my personal space. I swung my arms to get him off me. I shouted at him to get off me. He sniggered, turned and ran away."

Within two hours Eatough struck again, attacking a 15-year-old girl who had decided to go for a walk in Blackburn town centre at about 4am, having been unable to sleep.

Mr Mintz said she noticed him looking at her in a strange way and decided to look for a phone box to seek help. But before she could do so, he grabbed her from behind and put one hand over her mouth, holding a knife to her throat with the other.

Initially, he demanded money and her phone, telling her: "If you cry, I'll kill you."

But there was no robbery. Instead, he marched her 150 metres at knifepoint and forced her onto some waste ground behind the fire station, where he performed a sex act on her and raped her.

He also bit her and tried to rape her a second time. According to her mother he had threatened to "cut her up".

The court was shown a video tape of what happened when the 15-year-old picked out Eatough in an identity parade. On noticing him, she immediately reacted by pushing her chair back and becoming upset.

Eatough had completely denied the offences, putting forward an alibi, but DNA evidence linked him to the girl.

The first victim came forward as a result of publicity generated by the second assault.

Eatough had previous convictions including arson and two offences of attempted robbery. He had also been cautioned over allegedly simulating sex on a girl under 10.

Nick Kennedy, defending, told the court Eatough appreciated how wrong his conduct was and how much he regretted it.

He added: "It is clear from the pre-sentence report that he had endured a miserable upbringing. There had been physical and sexual abuse upon him. There is a traumatic background which has been deeply damaging to him. It doesn't excuse his conduct that night but it is a factor in this case."

Judge Slinger told Eatough that the first attack might have been much worse and the second victim had been terrified and humiliated, adding that there was a "real and significant risk or further very serious offences being committed by you".

Eatough will have to serve a minimum of three years and 99 days before being considered for parole. He will be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and has been barred from ever working with children. The court also made an order barring him upon release from having with him any knife, for any reason.