A judge has called for an investigation after a convicted rapist attacked a woman after absconding from prison day release for a second time.

Neil Trennan, 61, was handed his third life sentence for assaulting a student while on unsupervised day release from HMP North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire last year.

Trennan was first jailed for life in 1991 for breaking into a woman’s home in Sheffield, hitting her in the head with a dumbbell and raping her while she was unconscious.

He was handed a second life sentence in 2002 after escaping from a “distracted” prison officer while on day release in Norwich, going into a women’s toilet and hitting a woman with a brick.

Neil Trennan was on day release from prison for two life sentences passed down for horrific attacks on women, when he broke into a student’s home, armed with a knife, and attempted to attack her | SYP

placeholder image — Neil Trennan was on day release from prison for two life sentences passed down for horrific attacks on women, when he broke into a student’s home, armed with a knife, and attempted to attack her | SYP

Sheffield Crown Court heard Trennan had previously confessed to parole boards throughout his time in jail that he was aroused by violence and “enjoyed ‘violent, non-consensual sex”.

In July last year he was on day release from prison in Lincolnshire when he travelled to Sheffield, followed a student into her house and started to attack her while armed with a knife.

The court heard the woman managed to knock the knife from his hand and locked herself in the bathroom.

A judge said if the student had not managed to fight him off, Trennan would have subjected her to a violent rape.

On Wednesday Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, the Recorder of Sheffield, gave Trennan a third life sentence, with a minimum term of 10 years, but said it would likely never be safe for him to be released from prison.

Judge Richardson said it was “very unwise” for Trennan to have been allowed any form of unsupervised release “given what was known about (him)”.

The judge said he had “been given no adequate explanation for the decision” but would send his sentencing remarks to the Lord Chancellor, who “may demand one”.

Judge Richardson said: “This is an appalling case of history repeating itself and of insufficient heed being taken of that history when you were placed in open prison conditions.

“That must never happen again. As I have stated you pose immense and enduring dangers to women of acute violence and associated sexual depravity.

“No woman is safe whilst ever you remain at large.”