A DRUG DEALER who preyed on two vulnerable young women has been jailed for 12 years for rape.

Lamin Sanneh, 41, appeared at Swindon Crown Court yesterday after a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault at an earlier trial.

The father-of-six, originally of The Gambia, west Africa, was wearing a black shirt and stood in the dock with his arms folded as he was handed the judgement.

The investigation began in April 2009 when a 19-year-old local woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported to police that she had been raped in July 2008 by the defendant at his home address, after being lured there under false pretences.

Sanneh told her that his girlfriend had wanted to see her and once at the address the teenager became incapacitated after accepting a drink. She was then raped.

On July 1, 2009, a 22-year-old local woman reported the defendant had raped her in Queen’s Park. She had also been lured there under false pretences.

Judge Euan Ambrose said Sanneh held “casual and callous” views towards women and posed a high risk to the public.

“You are a life-long cannabis user, starting at the age of nine or 10 and you have been making your living by dealing in drugs,” he told Sanneh.

“Your immersion in drug culture, both as a user and a dealer, brought you into contact with a large number of vulnerable people.

“You targeted these two women because they were vulnerable and were, in your estimation, unlikely to report what had happened.

“You have shown a casual and callous attitude towards women and towards sex and you look on women as sexual objects to be used for your sexual gratification.

“You showed manipulative and predatory behaviour and you would regularly, several times a week, have sex with women in exchange for drugs.

“In the case of one of these women, you used a drug to overcome her resistance. She was unable to resist but at the time had full awareness of what was happening.”

“Mr [Rob] Ross in his submissions invited me to consider your letter and the pre-sentence report. He said you are somebody with the capacity to, in his words, ameliorate your behaviour in future.

“It is my assessment you are a high risk of serious harm to the public.”

Sanneh was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for public protection for the first charge of rape, six years imprisonment for public protection for the second rape and a two-year determinate sentence for the sexual assault.

The sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a minimum of six years before parole is considered.

Speaking after the case, DC Louise Elliott, said: “The court heard how he deceived two, vulnerable young women, in order to lure them to places where he could commit these despicable acts. Not only has he subjected these two women to a terrible ordeal, he has shown no remorse for his actions.

“This was a long and complex investigation and we are pleased with the sentence imposed by the judge. In particular, I would like to thank the victims who have shown great courage in coming forward. Without their continued assistance, this trial would not have been possible.”

DC Elliott said that police encouraged anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault to tell someone.

“If you don’t want to report it to police, you can tell a trusted adult who can report it on your behalf, not only so that the offender can be identified but to ensure that you are provided with the appropriate help and support.

“Rape is an extremely serious offence that has an enormous impact on victims and their families.

“We hope that the outcome of the trial and the sentence imposed today will offer these two women some peace of mind.”