Fugitive in stand-off as police hunt rapist

Police hunting fugitive Joseph Mccann over three rapes and two abductions last night located a man in connection with the incidents. Officers revealed that a man was speaking to trained negotiators after being secured in a rural area of Congleton, Cheshire. A fresh manhunt was launched yesterday for the “extremely dangerous” 34-year-old after two women were forced into a black Fiat Punto in Congleton town centre. The vehicle crashed with police in pursuit.

POLICE hunting fugitive Joseph Mccann over three rapes and two abductions last night located a man in connection with the incidents.

Police disclosed that a man was speaking to trained negotiators after being secured by officers in a rural area of Congleton, Cheshire.

A fresh manhunt was launched yesterday for the “extremely dangerous” 34-year-old after two women were forced into a black Fiat Punto in Congleton town centre at around 6.45pm.

The vehicle sped off after it was spotted and pursued by officers then hit another car and the driver fled, leaving the victims unhurt but “extremely shaken” inside, Cheshire Police said.

Scotland Yard detectives previously launched a hunt for Mccann after he allegedly snatched two women in their 20s off the streets in north London on April 25 in separate incidents.

He is also suspected of abducting a 21-year-old woman at knifepoint in Watford in the early hours of April 21 and raping her.

Officers believe Mccann was being hidden by a friend or family member.

Last week, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) launched a review after it emerged that he may have been wrongly released from prison. He was freed automatically halfway through a three-year sentence for burglary and theft.

Mccann is believed to have been subject to a lifelong licence after he was released in February 2017, having served 10 years of an indeterminate sentence for public protection for an aggravated burglary.

Last week, it emerged that the Parole Board did not formally assess whether or not Mr Mccann was suitable for release this year.

The MOJ insisted that a proper risk assessment would have been completed before Mccann was let out of jail.

A spokesman for the MOJ said: “When an individual commits a crime on licence that is sufficient enough to be recalled to prison, they should face the Parole Board for assessment prior to release for that offence.

Mr Mccann did not face the board. “We are urgently reviewing what happened in this case.”

Scotland Yard has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.

Police have warned Mccann is “extremely dangerous”, known to use false names and may be wearing a disguise.

Officers said he has recently gone by the name of Joel and has links to Watford, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, and Ipswich, as well as historic family links to Manchester.

Supt Sarah Pengelly, of Cheshire Police, said: “Mccann is a dangerous individual and I would advise anyone who sees him not approach him but instead call us immediately on 999.

“Inquiries to locate him are ongoing and there is a large police presence in the Congleton area.

“This includes road checks in and out of the town.

“The two women abducted in Congleton were not injured.

“However, they have been left extremely shaken as a result of their ordeal and are currently being supported by specially trained officers.”