‘Serial rapist hid in tree to escape cops’

ON TRIAL Joseph McCann

A SERIAL rapist was caught hiding up a tree after abusing 11 victims in two weeks, a court heard.

When Joseph McCann, 34, was finally cornered, he allegedly told police: “If you had caught me for the first two, the rest of this wouldn’t have happened.”

He had ditched a car, which he had persuaded two 14-year-old girls to get into, amid a police chase.

Prosecutor John Price QC told the Old Bailey: “He climbed a tree. A stand-off commenced.” He said the two girls were not harmed.

McCann allegedly attacked 11 victims aged 11-71 in London, Watford and Gtr Manchester in April and May. McCann, of Harrow, North West London, has pleaded not guilty to 37 charges.