EDMONTON -- A serial rapist who faces being designated a dangerous offender apologized for his "barbaric" crimes on Friday and begged for another chance.

Anthony Clark, 35, sniffled in the prisoner's box as he read a written statement expressing his "regrets" for the "pain and suffering" he caused his rape victims.

"I'm so sorry to all of you who have been affected by me," Clark said, adding that he prays God "heals them all" and hopes that they can forgive him one day.

Clark -- whom experts say poses a high risk to commit further sexual violence -- also said he would like an opportunity to do something "he won't be ashamed of" and asked the judge to not lock him up and throw away the key.

"I pray that you do not give up on me. I want help. I want to change. I pray you grant me one more chance."

The Crown sought to have Clark declared a dangerous offender and handed an indefinite prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to raping a woman in the river valley.

"The Crown submits there are no lesser measures that would adequately protect the public," said Crown prosecutor Avril Inglis at the start of the week-long hearing.

Court has heard the victim was violently attacked by Clark in a densely wooded area after he found her walking down a bike path about 9:30 p.m. on July 11, 2010.

Clark turned himself in to police two hours later and confessed to the rape, saying he was high on crack cocaine.

On Monday, the victim confronted Clark in court.

Court has also heard Clark was sent to prison for an Ontario sex attack in 1996 and he was also handed a six-year sentence for an attempted sex assault in Edmonton in 1999 while he was on parole for the earlier rape.

Psychiatrist Dr. Roger Brown testified Clark is very likely to re-offend based on the fact he has already re-offended despite having taken extensive sex-offender treatment.

"His risk is significantly higher than the average Canadian sex offender," Brown said.

The psychiatrist also noted in a report that Clark has said he himself was a victim of emotional and physical abuse as a child and claims he was also sexually abused. As well, Clark revealed he was a teen prostitute.

Defence lawyer Kent Teskey asked for Clark to not be designated a dangerous offender, saying there is a chance he could be manageable in the community in 20 years.

Teskey suggested a prison sentence of 20 to 25 years, to be followed by a long-term-offender order keeping him under community supervision for the maximum 10 years.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman is slated to issue his decision in the case on Nov. 2.