Rapist Joseph McCann was not viewed as sex threat by officials despite saying he wanted a ‘clean young girl’

Information showing the risk that McCann posed was not properly shared before he was released from prison, report finds

Serial rapist Joseph McCann was not viewed as a sexual risk by officials despite making “graphic” threats and saying he wanted a “clean young girl” when he was released, a report has revealed.

The 34-year-old is now serving 33 life sentences for a rampage where he attacked 11 women and children following his release from prison last year.

He attacked victims aged between 11 and 71 in what police described as an “unprecedented” two-week campaign of rape, kidnap and false imprisonment.

In some cases, McCann snatched women off the street and threatened them with a knife, while in others he used false pretences to lure victims into his car across London, Hertfordshire and northwest England.

The rapist had been freed from prison by mistake in February 2019, and police arrested the wrong man as a suspect for one of his attacks as he remained on the run.

McCann was eventually tracked down by police after attempting to evade capture by climbing up a tree.

A report by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) said “major failings” meant that the threat he posed was under-estimated and eight opportunities to recall him to jail were missed.

From 2003 onwards, the police had intelligence alleging that McCann was involved in sexually abusing and exploiting young teenage girls.

The information was put on a shared system used by prison, probation and police staff but was “not easily accessible”, HMIP found.

“No other entries until the 2019 offences identified a risk of sexual offending,” the report added.

But after McCann was handed an indeterminate sentence for “public protection” for aggravated burglary in 2008, a prison intercepted “graphic and detailed letters” he wrote to family members.

“They included threats of sexual violence and referred to wanting a ‘clean young girl’ on release,” the report said.

In 2010, McCann sent another threatening letter containing a sexual reference to his female offender manager, causing her to be taken off his case.

Then 2013, intelligence received by prison security again identified that McCann was attempting to find a “young girl” for his release.

“This key intelligence was not shared with the National Probation Service (NPS) and, therefore, did not inform subsequent risk assessments or release planning,” HMIP concluded.

“McCann had not been convicted of a sexual offence but the information from these combined sources indicates a potential sexual risk.”

Justin Russell, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, said evidence of McCann’s potential for sex offending were missed and made 13 recommendations for change.

“Those managing McCann did not have a clear picture of who they were dealing with,” he added.

“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 NPS staff responsible for his management.

“Probation staff were, therefore, making decisions and taking action based on inadequate and incomplete assessments.”

Serial rapist Joseph McCann was given 33 life sentences in December 2019 (PA)

McCann was initially released from prison in March 2017 but repeatedly violated his licence conditions and was arrested months later for burglary.

He was incorrectly given a determinate prison sentence, meaning he was automatically released in February last year, when his original sentence should have been reactivated.

“If the right actions had been taken, he would have been kept in prison until the parole board determined he was safe to release,” said Mr Russell.

The damning report found that offender managers had not properly looked at historical information, and believed McCann was making “good progress” in jail because he was completing courses and training programmes.

But at the same time, McCann was failing drug tests, became “involved in violence and intimidation” against other prisoners and was dealing psychoactive substances.

The report said his “core attitudes and behaviours did not change throughout his prison sentence”, while he was “menacing and manipulative” towards officials.

“At key points in his sentence he clearly put pressure on offender managers in relation to release, recall decisions, accommodation, and parole recommendations,” it added.

“This controlling and intimidating behaviour was evidence of potential risk of harm and should have been incorporated into supervision arrangements.”

HMIP said McCann should have been released into a probation hostel in February 2019, but was allowed to move in with relatives instead because there was no room.

(Metropolitan Police/PA (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Amid a nationwide shortage of space in such premises, where released prisoners are subject to enhanced monitoring, drug tests and other controls, HMIP said the government must increase capacity.

The watchdog said the eight missed chances to put McCann back in prison were partly down to “pressure from the top” to avoid the move because of overcrowding.

A Ministry of Justice recall “action plan” imposed in 2016 resulted in the number of offenders recalled to prison in Hertfordshire, where McCann was managed, to fall by half in two years.

“McCann was managed by an unstable team, lacking experienced and skilled practitioners,” the report added. “They suffered from poor management oversight, high workloads, poor performance and high staff turnover.”

HMIP said 10 probation staff supervised McCann in 11 years, and three different officers were responsible for the case in as many months before his release in February 2019.

The watchdog said that “mistakes and poor judgement” by individuals were part of a “wider context of probation policy, procedures and operational reality”, adding: “Inadequately trained and overworked staff and managers, as identified in this case, are not new findings.”

The Ministry of Justice has updated guidance and training on prison recall, and introduced a new offender management system for prisoners.

A spokesperson said it had apologised to McCann’s victims for the “unacceptable failings in this case”.

“We have greatly improved information sharing between prisons and probation officers and all probation staff have received new, mandatory training on when offenders should be recalled,” a statement added. “We’ve also bolstered frontline staff, with 800 probation officers in training to help keep the public safe.”