A CRIMINAL who was jailed eight years ago for owning a converted revolver is facing prison once again after a jury convicted him of raping two women and threatening to kill one of his victims.

Christopher Harwood was found guilty of five charges of rape against two different women.

He was also convicted of an attempted rape and two counts of threatening to kill his second victim.

The jury failed to return a verdict on a charge of possessing a firearm, after the prosecution alleged he raped his first victim at gunpoint.

His three-week trial has heard how he raped two women between 2006 and 2013.

On the first occasion, the victim did not make a complaint as she was "too frightened and ashamed" — but did so when it happened again a few weeks later.

Harwood was convicted in 2007 of possession of a firearm, assault by battery and assault causing actual bodily harm.

His victim initially retracted the complaints regarding sexual attacks, which the crown argued showed Harwood's influence over her.

She came forward to police again when she heard of complaints being made by a second woman in 2013.

The second woman had her head put into a makeshift noose after Harwood revealed he had suicidal thoughts and told her he wanted her to know what it felt like.

She was placed on top of a cabinet, before Harwood removed it from beneath her feet.

He only slackened the cable after she started making noises.

On a later date, Harwood and the second victim rowed and he threatened her with knives, making stabbing motions at her chest, telling her it was "him or her".

He even took to contacting both women from prison ahead of the trial, engaging in what the court heard was a "manipulative campaign".

Judge Timothy Clayson said: "Each woman made numerous attempts by letters to the judge to get him off the hook.

"Each woman believed at the time that she did indeed love him and that he would not repeat what he had done."

Harwood, aged 34, of Tintern Avenue, Tonge Moor, will be sentenced on May 11 at Bolton Crown Court.