A JUDGE has ordered probation officers to investigate how dangerous a brutal rapist and paedophile is before sentencing him.

For the second time, Simon Marshall heard a York jury convict him of sexual offences when they returned guilty verdicts on three charges of raping a woman.

In 2006, a different jury convicted him of attempting to rape and indecently assaulting a different victim when she was in her teens.

He has also served prison sentences for violence including a five-year term for wounding with intent and has been a drug dealer.

Recorder Patrick Palmer told York Crown Court: "I need the probation service to assess whether he is a dangerous offender. That has a particular meaning in law that will affect the sentence I will pass.

"Obviously it is gong to be a long prison sentence in any event."

The jury heard how Marshall, 49, had sex with several women. They also heard how he injured the rape victim and that she was terrified of him.

When he committed at least one of the rapes, he was serving a prison sentence and had been given leave to spend some time out of prison.

But he didn't tell the prison authorities about being with the woman and when they found out, he was recalled back behind bars.

Marshall, of no fixed address and formerly of both York and Selby, denied three charges of rape and one of indecent assault.

The jury acquitted him of the lesser offence but convicted him of the three rapes at the end of a three day trial.

Marshall claimed in evidence he had only been violent towards men and that he didn't hit women.

He also claimed the first jury in 2006 had "got it wrong" when they convicted him of the offences against the teenage girl.

"Dangerous" defendants can be detained indefinitely for public protection or receive extra supervision when they are released from prison.