A RAPIST who attacked teenage girls on consec-utive nights in Blackburn has been jailed indefinitely.

And one of Lee Anthony Nield’s victims, who fought him off using television self defence tips, has welcomed the sentence.

Nield was branded a danger to society by judge Anthony Russell QC and was told he would not be released until he no longer posed a risk to women.

He will first be assessed for parole in five years.

Unemployed Nield, 20, targeted two teens on consecutive days as they walked along the canal path behind Blackburn’s Grimshaw Retail Park in February this year.

He was caught on the third day when police found him returning to the scene of his crimes armed with a some rope and a pair of socks, which police suspect he intended to bound and gag his next victim with.

Nield, of Rockcliffe Street, was then linked to an earlier sex attack on a teenager at a Blackburn graveyard in October 2007.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two of actual bodily harm, and one of rape earlier this year.

Speaking after the case, Nield’s second victim, 15, at the time of the attack, said she used tips from a TV programme to escape Nield.

She said: “I had been to the cinema and was walking home when I decided to take a short cut. It was quite overgrown with trees but I thought I would be safe as I had been that way before and it was early in the evening.

“When I saw him I thought he was just another bloke going home but then he grabbed me.

“I was really scared and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.”

Preston Crown Court was told the teen tried to fight Nield off by biting him on the arm and thigh.

He tried to gag the girl using a sock and forced her to the floor before sexually assaulting her.

She told him she would consent if he allowed her to stand back up in a bid to gain a chance to flee.

The girl said: “I knew I had to get away. I watch Crimewatch so I used everything I learned and fought with all my strength.”

The following night Nield went on to rape a 16-year-old who he dragged into bushes and tried to tie up with rope.

His first Grimshaw Park victim said: “When I think what happ-ened to the other girl I feel lucky, if that is what you can call it.

“I’m glad he was sent to prison and I hope they don’t let him out for a very long time.”

Passing sentence, judge Russell QC told Nield: “The fact you were arrested at the same place the next day indicates you have become obsessed and if not caught you would have continued to carry out these crimes.”

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hunter paid tribute to the victims’ courage.

He said: “All three offences were attacks on vulnerable and defen-celess young girls who were walking home alone, minding their own business, on the fringes of Blackburn town centre.

“I hope they can get on with the rest of their lives safe in the knowledge that their actions have, I am convinced, prevented further attacks at the hands of Lee Nield.”