Blunders left serial rapist free for reign of terror

11 women and children targeted by ‘evil’ attacker

THE PROBATION service has apologised for failings which enabled “evil” serial sex attacker Joseph McCann to carry out a series of attacks on women and children.

McCann, a convicted burglar who had been freed after a probation service error, went on a cocaine and vodka-fuelled rampage, abducting, raping and assaulting victims aged between 11 and 71 in Watford, London and the NorthWest.

The 34-year-old, who is now facing a life sentence, changed his appearance and moved across five police force areas as he evaded police for 15 days despite telling his first victim his surname.

On his arrest, the violent offender told police: “If you had caught me for the first two, the rest of this wouldn’t have happened.”

McCann, who had addresses in Aylesbury and Harrow, refused to attend his Old Bailey trial and his claim to have had consensual sex with some of his victims was dismissed as “ludicrous”.

The jury deliberated for five hours to find him guilty of 37 charges relating to 11 victims, including eight rapes, false imprisonment and kidnap.

The Ministry of Justice had launched an inquiry into why McCann was not recalled to prison after committing a burglary following his release from an indeterminate sentence for aggravated burglary.

Instead, McCann was automatically freed having served half of his sentence on February 15, two months before his sex attack spree began.

It is understood one Probation Service worker was demoted as a result of a review of four staff who had direct contact with McCann.

Jo Farrar, chief executive of HM Prisons and Probation Service, said: “We recognise that there were failings and we apologise unreservedly for our part in this.”

Detective Chief Inspector

Katherine Goodwin described McCann as “evil” “manipulative” and “cunning”, and added: “He clearly is a horrendously dangerous individual. Each person feared for their lives while they were held against their will.”

Four men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of assisting McCann and released under investigation.

McCann, of Harrow, was convicted of 10 counts of false imprisonment, seven counts of rape, one count of rape of a child, two counts of causing or inciting a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, seven counts of kidnap and one count of attempted kidnap.

He was also convicted of three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of assault by penetration, one count of sexual assault and two counts of committing a sexual offence with intent.

Mr Justice Edis adjourned sentencing until Monday, saying McCann could attend in court or by video link from prison.