Locations
Hertfordshire, London, Greater Manchester and Cheshire
Description
Serial rapist Joseph McCann was free to attack his victims when he was mistakenly released from prison due to "major failings" by "unstable" and inexperienced probation staff, a review has found.
Officials were warned McCann had the hallmarks of a sex offender as early as 2011, but probation officers missed eight chances to keep him behind bars, according to an independent case review.
The 34-year-old dealt with 10 staff over the 11 years he was known to authorities and had three different probation officers in the months before he was wrongly released from prison in February 2019, the report added.
He went on to rape, abduct and assault 11 women and children between the ages of 11 and 71 in a terrifying 15-day rampage two months later.
A review of the case ordered by Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and carried out by Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell laid bare repeated errors in failing to recall McCann to prison despite him posing a major risk.
Weeks before he carried out the attacks in Watford, London and the North West of England, he was automatically released from jail due to a probation service mistake, the review found.
But had he been recalled to prison, he would have been kept behind bars until a parole board decided he was safe to release, it said.