Rapist ‘too dangerous to release’ struck again once free

Criminal was given parole despite judge warning that there was a ‘substantial risk of further serious offences’

A CONVICTED rapist who subjected a woman to a “terrifying, violent and prolonged” sex attack had been freed from prison despite a judge warning that there was a “very substantial risk” he would attack again.

Derry McCann, 28, yesterday pleaded guilty to raping a woman in a “sustained and systematic” attack in an east London park, hours before he was due to marry his pregnant partner.

MPs called for a public inquiry after it emerged that a judge had warned that McCann was almost certain to attack again, when he was given a life sentence for raping a woman in nearidentical circumstances a decade ago.

In December 2006, Judge Lindsay Burn sentenced McCann to a minimum of nine years behind bars, after he raped a trainee lawyer in an east London park, in what the judge said involved a “clinical enactment of a catalogue of sexual desires” amounting to “torture”.

The judge was so concerned that he ordered a transcript of his sentencing remarks to be sent to the governor of the prison.

Passing sentence, Judge Burn said: “In my judgment there’s a very substantial risk that you will commit further serious offences in the future and your conduct will cause serious harm to your victim or victims.”

A spokesman for the Parole Board said McCann had been released in 2015, but that his case would now be put in front of a review committee, “to identify any lessons that need to be learnt for the future”.

Philip Davies, a Conservative MP, called for a public inquiry into why McCann had been released. He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s extremely worrying to hear that somebody who commits an offence such as this, who the judge says is dangerous, is allowed back on to the streets. I have no idea what the Parole Board were doing. I hope there will be a full inquiry. They have allowed a woman to be the victim of an horrific crime.”

Appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday, McCann admitted subjecting a 24-year-old woman to a two-hour assault in Victoria Park, in Hackney, east London, as she was “within sight” of her front door.

The court heard that he had played “mind games” with the woman, taunting her by asking what she thought he would do next, before taking photographs of her after the attack, in the early hours of Jan 13.

Hours later, he married his girlfriend, said Kate Bex, prosecuting.

Honorary Recorder Martyn Zeidman told the rapist he had carried out a “terrible” crime and faced a “very, very long time” in prison.

Ms Bex told the court: “It was about midnight, just a little after, and the victim was walking a short distance home having been out to an art gallery, socialising with friends.

“She was almost within sight of her own front door when she skirted round the side of the park on her usual route home.

“She avoided walking through the middle of it because that was too dangerous, she walked around the side, but unfortunately when near the exit of the park the defendant grabbed her arm and pulled her to one side.”

Police said the panicked woman tried to reason with her attacker, but was punched in the face and threatened with further violence.

“He began a sustained and systematic attack… accompanied by unusual conversation with the victim, best described as mind games in an attempt to control her,” Ms Bex said.

McCann was arrested by police on Jan 18 and charged the following day. He will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on April 28.

‘It’s disgusting. I have no idea what the Parole Board were doing. I hope there will be a full inquiry’