Joseph McCann was released from prison after an error by the probation service
Metropiltan Police
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The head of the Probation Service has apologised “unreservedly” after a blunder led to Joseph McCann being set free just weeks before he went on a depraved crime spree.

The serial rapist was today convicted of 37 offences including rape and kidnap against 11 women and children, carried out in a two week reign of terror between April 21 and May 6.

McCann had been jailed for public protection in 2008 and released on licence in 2017, when a parole board deemed him no longer posing an immediate danger to the public.

He offended again in 2017, committing a burglary, but probation service failings meant he was not recalled to prison straight away. He was then given a three-year determinate sentence which meant he was freed automatically in February this year, just two months before he kidnapped and raped the first victim.

In a statement released today after McCann was found guilty at the Old Bailey, Dr Jo Farrar, the chief executive of HM Prison and Probation Service, said: “These were appalling crimes and our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and their families.

“We recognise that there were failings and we apologise unreservedly for our part in this. We are committed to doing everything we possibly can to learn from this terrible case.

“We have taken strong and immediate action against those involved in the management of McCann’s case and are taking significant steps to improve intelligence sharing between agencies.

“At the same time, we are developing new mandatory training on recall for all probation officers and we have updated guidance on the threshold for recalling an offender to prison.”

McCann was caught on CCTV as he was hunted by police
PA

As a result of McCann’s case, four staff were subjected to disciplinary proceedings, with one found guilty of gross misconduct and demoted.

Another staff member who had been involved in McCann’s supervision was dismissed from the probation service and the contract of an agency staff member was terminated. However their dismissals was down to poor performance and unrelated to the handling of McCann’s case.

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