Joseph McCann: Man suspected of abducting and raping two women in London was wanted for another attack days before

Hertfordshire Police identified McCann as suspect for Watford rape but failed to catch him before he allegedly struck again

A suspected rapist accused of snatching two women off the streets of London within 12 hours was already wanted for another attack days before.

Police are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Joseph McCann.

He was being hunted by Hertfordshire Police over the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Watford in the early hours of 21 April.

The force issued an appeal saying he was wanted “on recall to prison” on 25 April – the day when two other women were abducted in London and raped.

McCann is believed to have been released on licence from prison in February 2017 after serving a sentence for aggravated burglary.

Bedford Today reported in 2008 that McCann, then aged 23, was jailed indefinitely after threatening to stab an 85-year-old man in his Bedford home.

He remains at large and police have warned people not to approach the “extremely dangerous” suspect.

Hertfordshire Police said the first rape victim was “approached by a man holding a knife” in Hagden Lane, Watford, at around 3.30am on 21 April.

“She was forced into a blue Ford Mondeo and driven to numerous locations around the town over the next six hours,” a spokesperson added.

“These included the Rushton estate in Watford, near to Watford Library on Hempstead Road, North Western Avenue, and the BP garage on Wiggenhall Road. During this time she was raped at an address in the town.”

The victim reported the attack the following day and McCann was identified but not caught.

“A suspect was identified and a significant amount of work was done to try and locate and arrest him, which proved unsuccessful,” a Hertfordshire Police statement said.

“The named suspect was circulated on our social media channels as wanted on recall to prison on Thursday as a result of our investigation.

“The matter is being linked to the offences currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. We have been working very closely with them since their offences were reported and work is ongoing to trace the suspect.”

The Metropolitan Police believe McCann is the suspect caught on CCTV after abducting and raping two other women on 25 April.

Detectives are searching for 34-year-old Joseph McCann (pictured) who has been named as a suspect after two women were abducted from streets in north London and raped (Metropolitan Police)

The first woman was abducted from a street in Chingford shortly after midnight, and the second victim was kidnapped in Edgware 12 hours later at around noon.

Both women were raped after being snatched by the suspect in a silver- or grey-coloured Ford S-Max people carrier with false registration plates.

Minutes before the second abduction, Hertfordshire Police posted the appeal on its Facebook page with a custody photograph of McCann.

The post said the 34-year-old was wanted “on recall to prison” – but not what for – and had links to Aylesbury and, more recently, Watford.

The women were driven to the hotel in the town, where the suspect tried to book a room at 1pm, and they escaped after a struggle at 2.30pm.

Witnesses said one jumped out of the Ford S-Max and screamed for help, before builders who were working nearby rushed to her aid.

A witness described a man dragging the woman by her hair as she screamed for help.

“One of my workers went towards the victim and shouted, ‘Leave it, leave it’, and punched the perpetrator,” the man said. ”He released the girl and started to get into a fighting position to fight back to the worker.”

Other builders came to help their colleague, and the woman kidnapped managed to hit the suspected rapist over the head with a vodka bottle.

Police hunting for a rapist who abducted two women off streets in London have identified a suspect as 34-year-old Joseph McCann (Metropolitan Police)

The suspect then fled, telling the women’s rescuer: “My friend, you’re dead.”

Scotland Yard believes the two victims were targeted at random. They are both in their twenties and one woman was reported to be pregnant.

The Metropolitan Police said they were both “traumatised” and receiving specialist support.

Investigators said McCann is known to use false names, most recently calling himself Joel, and may attempt to disguise his appearance.

He was described as being of muscular build and 5ft 10ins tall. He has blue eyes, a bald head or shaved blond hair with a light-coloured short beard.

He speaks with a slight Irish accent and is has a distinctive tattoo of the name “Bobbie” on his stomach.

McCann has links to Watford in Hertfordshire, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and Ipswich in Suffolk.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: “I would like to highlight that stranger attacks like this are extremely rare and we appreciate the worry that this will have generated in the areas affected.

“If you see Joseph McCann, do not approach him as he is considered extremely dangerous but instead call 999 immediately.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure the man sought in connection with these offences is located as quickly as possible.”

A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rape on Sunday and has been released under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8244 or 999, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS. Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and The Survivors Trust supports people of any gender