Probation failures allowed rapist’s rampage

Staff missed eight chances to recall ‘classic psychopath’ Joesph Mccann to prison before he attacked 11 people

A SERIAL rapist was able to carry out his violent rampage because “inexperienced, unskilled and unstable” probation officers failed to spot the warning signs, a watchdog investigation found.

Justin Russell, chief inspector of probation, said the failings in supervision after his release saw Joseph Mccann go on to attack 11 women and children – aged between 11 and 71 – in a spree of violent sexual assaults across England.

His report follows a review, published by the Ministry of Justice, which found probation staff missed eight opportunities to recall Mccann to prison before he went on his rampage.

Mccann, 34, was handed 33 life sentences and jailed for a minimum term of 30 years in December. Mr Russell said probation officers tried, and failed, to secure him a space at an approved hostel on two occasions. This meant he was able to live with family, where he could not be monitored or managed closely.

As a high-risk offender, Mr Russell said Mccann should have been placed in secure accommodation to ensure he was under close supervision and to protect the public.

Ten probation staff supervised Mccann over an 11-year period, and three officers were responsible for his case in the three months prior to his release in February 2019. But it was an “unstable team, lacking experienced and skilled practitioners”, Mr Russell found. “They suffered from poor management oversight, high workloads, poor performance and high staff turnover.”

They did not have a “clear picture” of the serious threat posed by Mccann, who had a long history of violence and sexual assaults.

“There were signs that he posed an increasing risk to the public. There was evidence of his potential for sexual offending,” said Mr Russell.

“This information was available, but it was spread across several criminal justice recording systems. Information was not easily accessible and was lost in handovers between staff.

“Most worryingly, prison staff did not share information about the risk posed by Mccann proactively with National Probation Service (NPS) staff responsible for his management. Probation staff were, therefore, making decisions and taking action based on inadequate and incomplete assessments.

“The risk management plan in place at the time of his release was insufficient to manage the risk of serious harm he posed.”

Described by his sentencing judge as a “classic psychopath”, Mccann had been freed after a probation service error two months before he embarked on the cocaine and vodka-fuelled rampage.

He was seen by probation officers 10 times in two months since his release, the last just days before his first rape.

Mr Russell also cited a national policy encouraging alternatives to recalling prisoners to jail as a factor. He added: “Probation staff must be able to interview offenders effectively, seek out and analyse intelligence from different sources, and see beyond superficial compliance.”