A violent rapist has been locked up indefinitely after brutally attacking two vice girls, one at knifepoint.

Dimitri Cojan attacked his victims in the red light areas of Bradford and Leeds, subjecting one to an hour-long ordeal in his car.

Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday that 23-year-old Cojan, who came to this country from Moldova, did not accept he had done wrong and failed to understand the impact his attacks had on the women, one of whom had tried to commit suicide three times.

Sentencing Cojan to imprisonment for public protection, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC, said there was a significant risk he would do the same things again.

Judge Collier told him: “The impact of the offences, and the harm you caused your victims, is set out in statements they made. Each of them showed considerable courage in giving evidence. The long-term harm you did them is not to be underestimated.”

One of the victims wrote: “I have been assaulted and attacked before. Working as a prostitute, you expect these things to happen. I never reported them to police. I only reported this because it was so bad and so violent. I didn’t want him to have the chance to do this to anyone else.”

Cojan had been found guilty of four charges of rape and two of robbery.

Prosecutor Matthew Bean said the first prostitute was attacked in City Road, Bradford, at 3am on August 14 last year. She had consensual sex with him, but he then grabbed her, punched her, forced her to the ground and made her hand over £25. She screamed for help but nobody was around. He then raped her while continuing to punch her.

She managed to escape and flag down a passing car and the police were alerted.

The second attack happened in Leeds, on January 16, after he approached a prostitute in his Mercedes car. Cojan drove her to a residential area where, again, consensual sex took place and he demanded his money back.

He punched her and produced a Rambo-style knife. He threatened to “slice her throat” and raped her at knifepoint. He kept her in the car for an hour before allowing her to leave.

Mr Bean said the Bradford victim had been physically injured and both women had suffered serious psychological harm.

Judge Collier said it would be at least eight years – the equivalent of a 16-year sentence – before the Parole Board could consider the release of Cojan, of Royal Park Grove, Leeds, but he would not be freed until they were satisfied he no longer remained a serious risk.