A MAN allegedly carried out two sex attacks on young women in a similar fashion and in the same area of Burnley, one month apart.

It has been claimed that Nizam Ahmed, 38, of no fixed address, had engaged each of the two females in conversation before grabbing them around the throats and dragging them to a secluded spot.

His DNA was said to have been recovered in both instances, Preston Crown Court heard.

The defendant accepted to police having sex with one of them, insisting it was with her consent, but said that although he had wanted sex with the other, he did not try to when she didn't want to.

The defendant denies one charge of attempted rape in August and another of rape in September.

Opening the case for the Crown, Joanna Rodikis, prosec-uting, alleged that Ahmed committed each offence in the same area and in a very similar way.

It is claimed that at night he approached each young women, who were both strangers to him. Both were working as prostitutes.

Miss Rodikis said: “He has engaged them in some conver-sation and then he has grabbed each of them around the thro-ats, dragged them into secluded green area by the canal in Burnley and then he has committed sexual acts upon them, without their consent."

The two young women in the case were aged 18 and 22 at the time. His DNA was recovered from both of them.

Each made a complaint to the police very quickly after the alleged attacks had taken place.

The prosecution said that each had physical injuries which were consistent with their accounts of what took place.

In the first instance, the 18-year-old girl was walking in Colne Road, near the canal at around 10pm on August 27.

The defendant asked her for a cigarette. She said she didn't have any and walked on.

The prosecution claim she was then grabbed from behind, with Ahmed putting an arm around her throat and mouth.

She was dragged over a low wall and forced to the floor but she then ran away, it was alleged.

In the second instance, the victim was dragged to a grassy area, forced to the ground and an arm placed across her neck. He then raped her.

Ahmed initially denied to police ever having sexual rel-ations with any women other than his partner.

He did go on to accept having had sex with one or two prostitutes months earlier, but in the Manchester area and not Burnley.

(Proceeding).

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