A dangerous thug who preyed on and attacked young women at night has been jailed for six years.

Trevor Collier, 30, violently punched his victims repeatedly and pinned them to the ground - leaving them with a number of bruises and swellings.

In one of the attacks, he attempted to commit a sexual assault before running off.

The roofer from Chilham was traced through DNA and arrested last November at Center Parcs in Bedford.

After pleading guilty to the offences, Collier was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court for six years.

The first attack near to Chartham Cemetery off Ashford Road happened in April 2016.

An 18-year-old was pushed to the ground and punched repeatedly. She described thinking at the time that she was "going to die" before Collier ran off.

Fourteen months later, a 19-year-old was attacked while walking along University Road. In a similar style to the first, she was grabbed, pushed to the ground and punched repeatedly.

She temporarily lost consciousness but awoke to see Collier walking away laughing.

Another incident in the St Dunstan's area of the city resulted in Collier following a young woman in his white van before she reached safety.

Detective Sergeant Ross Gurden said: "These were very serious offences committed by a dangerous individual who appeared to deliberately track and target young women when they were at their most vulnerable.

"The DNA evidence in this investigation was key and demonstrates what a vital role forensic investigators and scientists play in modern policing. Without their efforts it would have been much more difficult to prove Trevor Collier was responsible.

"His dreadful actions were traumatic for the two young women targeted in this case, who I hope have found some comfort in this result along with the knowledge that Collier will now spend a significant period of time behind bars."