Manchester knifepoint rapist attacked four sex workers in five hours

She said she had “no doubt” other women had been attacked by Thomson, and appealed for them to come forward.

Thomson attacked the women in a “violent and callous way with no consideration for the damage he was doing to them”, she said.

Claire Simister, an investigator on the case who worked with the women, said initially it was “very, very difficult” for them to put their trust in the police.

But she said a relationship was established, in part thanks to the help of agencies like sex worker support charity MASH.

Ms Simister said: “All four [women] were afraid to attend court as they were scared… they would be prejudged for what they did.”

She praised them all for being “exceptional when giving evidence in that court”.