Dutch media are reporting that the man wanted for knocking two women in Utrecht off their bicycles at night has an earlier conviction for a violent sex crime.

Police have declined to say anything about the man, whom they have identified, but have issued a photo of him and said they have issued an international arrest warrant because he may now be abroad.

According to the Telegraaf, the man is Michael van H, who was jailed for three years plus psychiatric treatment for a very violent rape in a Dordrecht park in 2016. He was 27 at the time of his conviction.

Police have also issued a photograph of the car Van H was said to be driving at the time of the most recent attacks, a white Kia carrying the logo of a pharmacists chain.

Both women managed to get away, according to RTL. However, the new attacks are “very serious” and could have gone badly wrong, a spokesman told broadcaster NOS. “We very much want to get hold of this man to prevent him attacking again, and there being a third victim,” a spokesman said.