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06th May 2019

Police ‘arrest man after stand-off’ in rape suspect manhunt

Joseph McCann is wanted in connection with three rapes

Oli Dugmore

Joseph McCann is wanted in connection with three rapes

Police arrested a man on Sunday night after a stand-off. “Extremely dangerous” Joseph McCann has been on the run since last week and is suspected of raping three women but Cheshire Constabulary are yet to confirm if he is in custody.

The suspect climbed a tree and refused to come down after being surrounded by police in Congleton, Cheshire.

Paramedics and negotiators attended the scene and an arrest was made early on Monday morning.

Investigations focused on Congleton after two women were forced into a car on Sunday evening, behaviour similar to that being investigated by Metropolitan Police following the abduction and rape of two women in north London on April 25.

A 21-year-old woman was also abducted and raped at knifepoint in Watford on April 21.

Scotland Yard’s manhunt for fugitive Joseph McCann, who is suspected of the crimes, focused on Congleton following the most recent attack.

Police officers spotted and pursued the vehicle containing two women before it crashed into another car and the driver fled. They were unhurt but “extremely shaken.”

Authorities said they had found a man wanted in connection with the abductions and BBC News reported that McCann was arrested after hiding in a tree on a rural road.

Cheshire Constabulary said: “The man has been secured by officers in a rural area of Congleton and is currently talking to trained negotiators.

“There remains an increased police presence in the local area.

“The two women abducted in Congleton were not injured. However, they have been left extremely shaken as a result.”