A PROLIFIC sex offender once labelled the most wanted man in Yorkshire was yesterday given a further life sentence for the horrific rapes of two schoolgirls 36 years ago.

Robert Sneddon, a lorry driver from Baildon, was jailed for life in 1982 for a series of appalling attacks on young girls in isolated locations, including Bradford's Peel Park, Bingley's Myrtle Park, Keighley's Cliffe Castle Park, and Calverley's Lodge Woods.

At the time, he could not be linked to his two 1979 victims, who were aged 14 and 15.

But a cold case review found his DNA, proving he was also responsible for two violent rapes in Bowling Cemetery, Rooley Lane, Bradford and Soldier’s Field, Roundhay, Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday that Sneddon was still serving his original sentence, but had reached an open prison with occasional day leave pending his ultimate release, when the further forensic tests were carried out and landed him back in court.

Now 62, Sneddon admitted both rapes and was jailed for life with a minimum of eight years.

Judge James Spencer QC said it was part of a “campaign of rape” that was very likely to impact on any release date. “What you did to them was callous and violent and extreme and it has had a lasting effect on them.”

Sophie Drake, prosecuting, said on July 10, 1979, a 14-year-old girl was walking along Rooley Lane when Sneddon approached from behind and put his hand over her mouth.

He forced her into the cemetery and on to the ground in spite of her struggling against him. She was terrified as he undid her blouse.

He then began to pull down her knickers and when she continued to resist hit her on the head twice. He raped her, ignoring her screams.

She said she never got over the attack which had affected her whole life. She kept asking herself “why me? Why was I chosen.”

In the other case brought before the court yesterday, Miss Drake said a 15-year-old girl was crossing Old Soldier’s Field in Roundhay, Leeds, on the afternoon of December 19, 1979 when a man grabbed her arm, saying he needed help to walk along the path. But once they got into bushes he grabbed her, put his hand down her bra, pushed her to the ground and raped her.

Miss Drake said after Sneddon was linked to the two attacks he was interviewed last year and said he had “warped thinking” at the time.

She said Sneddon was given life in 1982 for offences including the knifepoint rape of a 23-year-old woman in Roundhay Park, knifepoint sex assaults on three girls in Bramley, indecent assaults on two girls in Calverley, and the rape of another woman in Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford.

Another 13 indecent assaults taken were into consideration on girls under 16.

Telegraph & Argus reports from the time revealed how police had labelled him "The Pot Bellied Rapist" and believed he posed an extremely high risk.

Kate Batty, for Sneddon, said he had served years in custody beyond the original tariff set for his life sentence and had addressed his offending behaviour during that time. He had not admitted the attacks at the time because he was too ashamed.

After the case Detective Inspector Shaun Bartram of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Investigation Review Team said: “Sneddon is a prolific sex offender with an appalling catalogue of crimes against young woman.

“Today’s conviction demonstrates the determination of officers from Operation Recall, West Yorkshire Police’s specialist team who reinvestigate unsolved historic sexual offences, to bring offenders to justice and hopefully provide victims with some sense of closure.”