£20,000 reward offered: Police search for man for kidnapping and raping two women in north London

Police are searching for a man suspected of kidnapping and raping two women and are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.

Joseph McCann, 34, was named by police on Tuesday as a suspect in the attacks in north London and described as “extremely dangerous”.

It has also become known that he allegedly raped a 21-year-old woman at knifepoint in Watford a few days earlier. The police believe this is a related incident.

The earlier attack occurred on April 21 at around 3.30am on Hagden Lane, where the victim was approached, driven around in a blue Ford Mondeo for six hours and then raped.

McCann is a fugitive who was released from prison on parole in February 2017 for aggravated burglary.

He is said to have a slight Irish accent and is known for using fake names, including “Joel”.

The Metropolitan Police warned that he could also be in disguise.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: “We are asking anyone with information about McCann’s whereabouts to contact us immediately. McCann is considered extremely dangerous and poses a risk to the public. We are asking people not to approach him and to call 999 instead.”

McCann is described as muscular and 5’10” tall.

He has blue eyes, a bald head or clean-shaven blonde hair and a light, short beard.

He has a slight Irish accent and is said to have a conspicuous tattoo of the name Bobbie on his stomach.

Two women, aged around 20, were kidnapped separately in London on Thursday.

The first woman was abducted shortly after midnight from a street in Chingford, the second about 12 hours later at 12:15pm from a street in Edgware.

The suspect drove the women to a hotel in Watford and attempted to book a room at around 1pm, but left when he was told none were available.

At around 2.30pm, the women managed to escape from the car on Osbourne Road in Watford.

In connection with the crimes, the police are still trying to track down a silver or grey Ford S-Max MPV that had false license plates.

According to police, the women are traumatized and are receiving support from specialist officers.

A 33-year-old man arrested on Sunday 28 April on suspicion of conspiracy to commit rape was released pending the conclusion of the investigation.

:: Anyone who can help is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8244 or 999 quoting CAD 3041/25Apr. Alternatively you can tweet anonymously to @MetCC and/or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.