A prolific sex offender has been given a further life sentence for the horrific rape 35 years ago of two schoolgirls in Bradford and Leeds after a cold case review found his DNA.

Robert Sneddon was jailed for life in 1982 for a series of appalling attacks on young girls in the two cities but at the time he could not be linked to his two 1979 victims, who were aged 14 and 15.

Leeds Crown Court heard today Sneddon was still serving his original sentence but had reached an open prison with occasional day leave pending his ultimate release, when further forensic tests were carried out on evidence retained from the two attacks.

They proved he was responsible for the two violent rapes in Bowling Cemetery, Rooley Lane, Bradford and Soldier’s Field, Roundhay, Leeds 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 the first attack was 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 forced her to touch his penis saying he would not let her go until she did.

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

She ran home in a distressed state and described how she considered the cemetery a “no go” area for years that followed in spite of family being buried there.

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

Miss Drake said the 15 year old girl was crossing Old Soldier’s Field in Roundhay on the afternoon of December 19, 1979 when she saw a man walking along a path appear to stumble and he called her over to help him.

He grabbed her arm saying he needed help to walk along the path. As they neared some changing rooms he was still holding her arm and limping and suggested she look for a stick he could use for support.

But once they got into bushes he grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth and told her if she made a noise he would break her neck.

She thought he was going to kill her and was terrified. He put his hand down her bra, forced her to pleasure him and then pushed her to the ground and raped her.

After his attack she was frightened to be out on her own but had to go in the same area to get to school. She also had counselling.

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 a nother woman in Scholemoor Cemetery, Bradford as well as 13 other indecent assaults taken into consideration on girls under 16.

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.”

“Sneddon was caught using advances forensic techniques to link him to two crimes which occurred 36 years ago. This case should again illustrate the passage of time is no barrier to justice and I hope today’s sentence will provide his two victims with some sense of comfort and reassurance.”

“I would like to assure any person who has suffered such abuse that no matter when this happened West Yorkshire Police has specialist officers who will listen and investigate and do all we can to see offenders brought to justice.”