FOUR prostitutes were attacked at knifepoint by the same man, a court was told yesterday.

Paul Kennedy, 38, picked them up in his 4x4 Vauxhall and then demanded money from them, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

Paul Worsley, QC, prosecuting, said that the first attack in Middlesbrough's red light district was on a 19-year-old vice girl in December 1999.

He put tape over her eyes and held the knife to her throat before having sex with her. Then he demanded £40 back and grabbed another £80 tucked in her left boot.

Mr Worsley told a jury that Kennedy carried out similar knife attacks on the other three women in February, March and April last year.

Kennedy, a divorced lorry driver from Pontefract, drove to the red light area on trips to Hartlepool, the court heard.

Kennedy, of Manor Drive, Featherstone, later told police that he had met only one of the prostitutes for sex and robbed none of them.

He denies raping and robbing two of them, indecent assault and attempting to rob a third and robbing the other.

The trials continues.