An Ipswich man who raped two teenagers has been jailed for 10 years.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Alex Turner, 20, of Spenser Road, Ipswich, who had denied three offences of rape and one offence of assault by beating.

A jury unanimously convicted him of the three rapes and found him guilty of the assault by beating charge by a majority verdict of 10-2 after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court earlier this year.

The court heard that before the trial took place, Turner pleaded guilty to an offence of sexual activity with one of the victims and raping another teenager.

On Wednesday he was jailed for a total of 10 years with an extended licence period of five years.

Sentencing Turner, Judge John Devaux said in his opinion he posed a significant risk of serious harm by the commission of further serious offences.

He said Turner would have to serve two thirds of his sentence before he could be considered for release and he would only be released if the parole board considered it was safe to do so.

Turner was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register.

During Turner’s trial the court heard that the assault by beating charge related to Turner head-butting one of the victims.

Emma Nash, prosecuting, said that during one of the rapes the complainant had initially consented to sex but changed her mind when it became painful. Turner carried on having sex with her after she withdrew consent.

The court heard that following his arrest, Turner denied the allegations and claimed he had consensual sex with her.

Miss Nash said Turner had got into the other victim’s bed and started kissing and touching her.

She said she was not interested in having sex with him and told him to stop and pushed his hand away.

Turner had ignored her protestations and raped her.

Paul Donegan, for Turner, said his client had been suffering from anxiety and depression while he had been in custody.

He said Turner had taken a number of courses while in prison to obtain qualifications.

PC Damian Richer, of the Suffolk Police Safeguarding Unit said: “The victims in this case were immensely brave in coming forward and giving their evidence about what happened to them. They have been supported through the investigation by a number of agencies.

“We hope such a result will help to reassure victims that we will always investigate any allegations of recent or historic sexual abuse thoroughly and as a result bring offenders to justice.”