Triple rape suspect was released from prison by ‘MISTAKE’ before attacking three women
A SUSPECTED triple rapist may have been released from prison by MISTAKE before allegedly attacking three women.
Joseph McCann, 33, was allowed to walk free from jail after serving half of a three-year sentence for a burglary committed while on license.
McCann, who has been described as “extremely dangerous” by cops, is suspected of snatching a 21-year-old woman in Watford in the early hours of April 21 and raping her.
It has since emerged the fugitive is being hunted by Scotland Yard after two women were abducted in Chingford and Edgware in North London during a 12-hour window on Thursday.
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
McCann was given an indeterminate sentence for the violent burglary of an OAP in December 2008.
But he was released by the parole board in 2017 – before being called back to jail for breaching his licence when he committed another break-in.
McCann, who was subject to life-long parole conditions, was then handed a three-year prison sentence and was eligible for a parole assessment after 18 months.
However, for whatever reason an assessment did not take place and he was released back into society.
The Ministry of Justice has launched a probe to find out why the process was not followed.
But refused to accept there had been a blunder by parole chiefs.
PAROLE BLUNDER
A spokesman told Sun Online: “The Ministry of Justice is urgently reviewing this case.”
The women abducted in Chigwell and Edgware were taken to a street in Watford but managed to escape after smashing a vodka bottle over the attacker’s head.
The Metropolitan Police is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information which leads to his arrest and prosecution.
They have urged the public to “contact them immediately” and told the public “not to approach him”.
McCann is known to use false names, including Joel, and may be using a disguise.
TRIPLE RAPE
Hertfordshire Police said the first woman was approached at around 3.30am on April 21 in Hagden Lane, driven around for six hours in a blue Ford Mondeo and then raped.
The ordeal was reported to police the following day.
A spokesman for the force said: “A suspect was identified and a significant amount of work was done to try and locate and arrest him, which proved unsuccessful.”
“The named suspect was circulated on our social media channels as wanted on recall to prison on Thursday (April 25) as a result of our investigation.
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“The matter is being linked to the offences currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service.
“We have been working very closely with them since their offences were reported and work is ongoing to trace the suspect.”
Police described McCann as being muscular, about 5ft 10in, and having a “distinctive” tattoo of the name “bobbie” on his stomach.
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