Afghan national Aryan Rashidi, who entered the UK on a lorry illegally, also tried to commit a sex attack on another victim in June 2016 as she slept in bed with her husband with their baby in a cot in the same room

A 'predatory sex attacker' who raped a pregnant woman at knife point in her own bed has been jailed for life.

Afghan national Aryan Rashidi, 20, who entered the UK on a lorry illegally, also tried to commit a sex attack on another victim in June 2016 as she slept in bed with her husband, with their baby in a cot in the same room.

Rashidi later held a knife to his victim's throat during the shocking attack in the early hours of October 5, 2016, a court was told.

He preyed on the pregnant woman in order to take a risk to 'fulfill his sexual needs', Leeds Crown Court heard.

The court heard both victims have been left deeply traumatised and have had to move as they no longer felt safe in their homes.

David Hall, prosecuting, said Rashidi used a ladder to climb to the bathroom window of the first victim before entering the property.

The woman, who was in bed with her husband, awoke to find Rashidi pulling at her pyjama bottoms in the first attack in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Mr Hall said the woman pretended to be asleep as she feared Rashidi may be armed.

Her baby was asleep in a cot beside her and another child was sleeping in a different room.

She managed to wake her husband and Rashidi ran off, leaving a shoe at the scene.

Rashidi's fingerprint was also found at the property but police could not link him to the incident until after he was arrested for the more recent rape in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, as he had no criminal record in the UK.

Police were called a house after it was reported a woman had been assaulted at knifepoint by a man who had climbed into her house through an open window.

DCI Sue Jenkinson of Wakefield District Police said: 'Following painstaking analysis Rashidi was captured on CCTV walking through Wakefield City Centre and officers located and arrested him from a hotel within 24 hours of the offence.

Rashidi said he did not know his date of birth when arrested soon after the offence, and tried to claim he was aged 15 or 16.

A dental examination showed Rashidi is aged likely to be aged 22.

He pleaded guilty to rape and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Robert Stevenson, mitigating, said Rashidi now accepted that he was aged over 18.

Mr Stevenson said Rashidi had experienced a traumatic life in Afghanistan before coming to the UK.

He said: 'He has known nothing but a war-torn and lawless country.

'It seems throughout these proceedings there has been a reluctance on his part to talk about his past and to talk about the things that he has seen.

'Rather than just being evil, he is the product of a somewhat traumatic past.'

Judge Neil Clark said he was imposing a life sentence as he believed Rashidi posed a serious danger to the public.

He said: 'Your offending is of the most serious and frightening type.

'It's very nature points to the level of danger you present to the public.

'It is hard to begin to imagine more terrifying or humiliating offending than this.'

Rashidi was told he must serve a minimum of five years, eight months, in custody before he is eligible to apply for parole.

Judge Clark told Rashidi he would only be released if he was no longer considered a danger to the public.

He warned him that it was possible he would remain in prison for the rest of his life.

DS Tom Penistone, of Wakefield District Adult Safeguarding unit, said: 'The woman who Rashidi so seriously assaulted showed amazing bravery through the criminal process and I wish to pay tribute to her.

'The fact that she has asked us to warn residents to make sure they properly secure their properties speaks volumes for her character.'