A RAPIST who committed a terrifying sex assault on a woman in Barrow is back behind bars after attacking another woman in a chilling incident in Blackpool. 

Steven Foster, 34, was jailed for eight years in 2006 after he crept up behind a woman as she walked home alone, pulled her hood over her head and dragged her down an alley behind St Luke's Church in Barrow, where he raped her. 

The woman had left her boyfriend’s house in the town to walk home when Foster dragged her into the undergrowth at 3.15am on December 2 2005. 

Now, almost a decade later on September 29, Foster struck again when he crept in through a student’s window in Blackpool and attempted to rape her in her halls of residence. 

The woman - who can not be identified for legal reasons - had been at a freshers’ party in the resort but had left after a disagreement with a friend. 

She went to bed in her ground floor room but woke to find Foster, partially naked, lying on top of her. 

He had climbed into her room through an open window, Preston Crown Court heard. 

As the woman backed away from her attacker she noticed his fly was undone but Foster warned her: “Scream and I’ll rape you.” 

He left, stealing her iPad and mobile phone. 

However it was only following her ordeal that the woman learned of Foster’s past. 

The attack left her terrified and she considered leaving her course, but has vowed to remain in her flat and complete her studies. 

Foster, of Hornby Road, Blackpool, but previously from the Salthouse area in Barrow, pleaded guilty to attempted rape, burglary and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. 

When officers searched his home they found three pairs of women’s knickers - one belonging to his victim in Blackpool. 

During police interview he denied intending to attack the woman and said he did not know why he was in the woman’s room, but later admitted the offences. 

In a victim impact statement the woman said she had considered leaving her course and moving home but was determined not to let Foster ruin her university career. 

Judge Christopher Cornwall, told him: “You have deprived a lively and fun loving student of all her self confidence. 

“She has contemplated taking desperate steps, so low had you brought her. 

"She contemplated leaving her course which she had wanted to do all her life. 

“But through her own strength of character, and assisted by her family she has resolved she will not allow you to ruin her life over and above the extent to which you have already.” 

He handed him a 13 year extended prison sentence.