A rapist who carried out terrifying sex attacks on prostitutes has been told he must serve at least nine years in jail.

Abdal Ahmed Adres (32), a Palestinian asylum-seeker, carried out the attacks on three women who he picked up on the streets of Leicester.

One told the Mercury she feared for her life after he drove her to a house, then trapped her inside. She said he forced her to strip and threatened to bring other men into the room.

She said: "I let him do what he wanted because I wanted to stay alive and I thought he was going to kill me.

"He deserves everything he gets. He's definitely dangerous. I'm happy with the sentence.''

She reported him to the police after recognising him in Leicester city centre a year later.

At Leicester Crown Court yesterday, Judge Michael Pert QC told Adres he was jailing him for the public's protection, for a "campaign of rape" on vulnerable women.

Afterwards, the 32-year-old victim said Adres, who she said was 'off his head on drugs', lured her to a house off the Narborough Road, locked her in and raped her. She said: "He hasn't ruined my life, but I haven't worked as a prostitute since.

"I didn't report the attack until a year later, when I saw him in the city centre and recognised him. By then I knew he'd done the same to others."

She praised the judge and the New Futures Project, which helps women who work as prostitutes, and stood by her throughout the case.

Adres was convicted by a jury of twice raping her and attempting to rape her. He was also found guilty of raping two other prostitutes, aged 24 and 29.

Adres, of no fixed address, whose Polish wife was in court to support him, denied committing the offences between 2007 and 2008.

The court heard he picked up the victims in Kent Street, Highfields, while driving a green sports car. The 29-year-old was taken to a house in the city, where he punched her in the face and threatened to kill her. He forced her to strip before raping her.

The 24-year-old victim was driven to an alley near Leicester's Abbey Park, and attacked from behind. He put his hand over her mouth and threatened to hurt her if she did not keep quiet. She was slapped, punched, then raped.

Another prostitute was so concerned about his behaviour she took his registration number, which led to his arrest. All three victims picked him out in a video identification procedure.

Judge Pert QC told him: "You carried out a campaign of rape on vulnerable people."

He said it would be nine years before a parole board could even consider if Adres was safe enough to be released on a life licence. He also recommended deportation on his release.

Adres' defence barrister, Mary Prior, said they had been violent, traumatic attacks, but added: "He takes the view there are different categories of women, although that doesn't apply in this country, nor should it."

New Futures director Della Cavner said: "He is going to be in prison for a long time and at least for now the women are safe from him. We're very proud of the women for standing up."

Police said they had not ruled out the possibility that Adres has come into contact with other prostitutes. Officers can be contacted on 0116 222 2222.