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A man has admitted raping one woman and attempting to rape another in a west Hull cemetery.

Ishaq Al-Noor, 21, was due to stand trial at Hull Crown Court on Monday, but pleaded guilty to both charges after one of his victims attended court to give evidence against him.

He was remanded in custody and warned to expect a "lengthy" sentence.

Both offences took place in Western Cemetery in Spring Bank West, west Hull.

The attempted rape happened at about 2.30am on November 16.

Judge Rodger Thomas QC adjourned sentencing until August 6, and ordered a probation service report to consider the issue of dangerousness.

No details of the offences were given by prosecutor John Thackray, but the rape took place on June 4 last year, and the attempted rape on November 16.

The Mail understands both attacks took place in close proximity to each other.

Al-Noor, of Pendrill Street, west Hull, needed the services of one of the few interpreters in the country who could speak his particular Sudanese dialect.

When the rape charge was put to him, Al-Noor, through his interpreter, said: "Guilty. Yes, I did that. Why not?"

He replied "Yes, guilty" to the attempted rape.

Claire Holmes, for Al-Noor, said: "This defendant came to the UK as an asylum seeker three years ago to work and he would like to know his fate. He knows that is a lengthy inevitable sentence of immediate imprisonment."

Report will assess dangerousness

The judge said: "The question of dangerousness arises, and the question of an extended sentence. These are all possibilities and real possibilities at that.

"How did he arrive from the Sudan? Does the Border Agency know anything about him? I would like to know what the Border Agency do or do not know about him, how did he arrive and what's been going on with him since he arrived."

In a statement after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Nicholson, of Humberside Police's Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: "The victims in this case have shown immense bravery in coming forward to report these offences to us.

'Predatory' sex offender

"Their accounts of their traumatic experiences and evidence gathered have enabled us to build a strong case against Al-Noor. His admission of guilt today means the victims do not have to relive their dreadful ordeals before a jury, but it will never lessen the damage this predatory sex offender has inflicted upon them.

"These are incredibly serious offences for which Al-Noor will now face a lengthy prison sentence and he will no longer pose a risk to the public.

"We again commend the victims for their courage in coming forward and offer our assurance to anyone reporting a sexual offence that they will be treated with respect and empathy.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation where the victim will be supported throughout, and we will do our very best to pursue perpetrators through the courts."

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His attempted rape in the cemetery happened less than a month after the attempted rape of a 36-year-old woman in the same cemetery.

After the first attack, Humberside Police said they were "concerned he may try again". But after the second incident, the force said they did not believe the two attacks were linked.

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