AN 'emotional manipulator' who showed 'not one jot of remorse' for raping two women has been jailed for 17 years.

James Denis Hall, of Hill View Rise in Northwich, was sentenced today, December 21, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for raping two women while they were unconscious.

The 39-year-old's actions were described as 'predatory' as the judge handed him his sentence.

The court heard how in the early hours of Friday, October 13, 2017, Hall met a woman outside a nightclub in Manchester before sharing a taxi with her.

When the taxi arrived back to Hall’s then-home address in Manchester, she was invited inside.

The victim was given alcohol and cocaine before she blacked out.

Her next memory is waking up to Hall raping her, the court heard.

In July 2018, a second victim came forward to report that Hall had raped her at his home address November 2017.

In similar circumstances to the first incident a month earlier, the victim had been on a night out in Manchester and Hall provided her with alcohol and cocaine.

Later, the victim awoke to find Hall raping her while she was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Hall denied any sexual contact with the victim but the jury at Minshull Street Crown Court found him guilty of raping both victims.

Detective Constable Matt O'Connor, of GMP Stockport CID, said: "I would like to thank the victims for coming forward and my thoughts are with them as they continue to come to terms with what happened.

"Throughout this lengthy investigation, James Hall failed to take any responsibility for his abhorrent and predatory actions against either victim.

"In particular, with the second victim, Hall manipulated her for some months after the incident in an attempt to prevent her from disclosing his actions to anyone in the knowledge that he was already under investigation for rape.

"I am pleased that she eventually plucked up the courage to come forward and report his heinous behaviour.

"Today we have been able to put him behind bars for a considerable amount of time and these two women have got the justice they deserve.

"The horrific impact of this kind of crime stays with victims and their families for life, and I would encourage anyone affected by this case to contact police, or our partners, to report any abuse or exploitation so that the relevant authorities can act on it."

Anyone affected by this case should contact police online or call 101.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.