A SALSA dance teacher is facing a lifetime behind bars after being found guilty of violently raping one of his pupils.

Jurors yesterday found Joseph Lantelli, 42, guilty of twice raping a vulnerable woman, once during a dance lesson and once at his home.

After reaching their verdict they were told the married salsa instructor was already serving a jail term for two sexual assaults on an 18-year-old dancer.

The court heard the two cases were 'very similar' because Lantelli had sexually abused both women during private lessons at Capone's nightclub in Dursley.

Italian-born Lantelli sobbed uncontrollably as he was told he faces the possibility of a life behind bars.

Judge Andrew Barnett said he viewed him as a 'danger to pupils' and warned that he faced a lengthy jail sentence.

He said: "You have been found guilty by this jury, quite properly in my view, of two extremely serious counts of rape.

"You must understand that you are liable, when you come back for sentence, to face a very long prison sentence.

"It could possibly be an indeterminate sentence, which is effectively a life sentence.

"You, it strikes me, are demonstrating a tendency to become a liability and positive danger to those you teach."

After more than six hours' deliberation the jury at Winchester Crown Court found Lantelli guilty of both counts of rape.

Lantelli broke down in tears as the foreman delivered the majority verdicts and banged his fists on the screen of the dock, repeatedly shouting: "I did not do it."

During a seven day trial, jurors heard the world salsa dance finalist had 'abused his position of trust' by preying on the vulnerable woman and striking up a sexual relationship with her.

After the jury of six men and six women delivered their verdicts it was revealed that Lantelli was convicted in April 2007 of two counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Lantelli, of Keates Avenue, Podsmead, Gloucester, is due to be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on March 10.

Acting Detective Sergeant Gavin Webb, of Gloucestershire police, who worked on the case, said it was an "incredibly important result".

He said: "This is the second time we have brought a prosecution against this individual. I would like to pay tribute to the victims in both cases, who have had to endure giving some very emotional evidence.

"They have shown incredible bravery and deserve our respect for handling this with such dignity."

No one from Capone's nightclub was available for comment after the hearing yesterday.