POLICE have launched appeal proceedings into the sentence given to sex attacker Timothy Din.

They believe the 20-year jail term handed down to the hooded rapist last week was not long enough, and are due to ask the Attorney General to consider referring the case to the Appeal Court.

On Thursday last week, Judge Peter Fox sentenced Din, 44, after a jury at Teesside Crown Court found him guilty of one rape, three attempted rapes and a burglary with intent to rape.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we have started the appeal process."

Burmese-born Din, from Hartlepool, wore a black balaclava as he targeted young women with shoulder-length hair in frighteningly similar strikes only a mile-and-a-half apart in Thornaby, Teesside.

The married father-of five planned his attacks carefully, swooping on his victims when they were at their most vulnerable, after building up a picture of their lifestyles.

Aidan Marron, prosecuting, told the court that on two occasions the taxi fleet mechanic found his victims asleep with young children and threatened to harm the youngsters in a bid to force the woman into submission.

He was first arrested on suspicion of rape in 1991, but released. Police are now due to open a number of unsolved rape cases.

Din, of Yeovil Walk, Hartlepool, has been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Speaking after he was jailed, Acting Detective Superintendent Stewart Swinson said: "All the attacks were calculated and well-planned. At the time of these attacks there was a genuine fear in the community."

He also paid tribute to the victims for their bravery in giving evidence and to the work of the police officers on the case.

Sentencing Din, Judge Peter Fox told him: "You prepared each attack with very great care and over a long period. You must have watched and waited to seize your evil opportunity."

The victims said the attacks had changed their lives forever, but spoke out in the wake of the trial, saying they hoped other frightened victims of sex attacks would have the courage to come forward.