AN East Lancashire detective who helped put Joseph McCann behind bars said the public are much safer now the serial rapist has been given 33 life sentences.

Detective Sergeant John McNamara, who has been a detective for 13 years, said the level of violence McCann used during his attacks was some of the worst he has come across in his career.

McCann was yesterday given the life sentences at the Old Bailey and told he would have to serve a minimum of 30 years.

Det Sgt said: “McCann committed some of the worst offending I have ever seen in area after area and is clearly a dangerous individual.

"I am satisfied the streets and society is a lot safer now that he is behind bars.

“McCann used a sickening level of violence. A lot of hard work has gone into bringing him to justice from a multitude of forces, including Lancashire.

“The bravery of the victims and the witnesses in coming forward to ensure we managed to secure this conviction is phenomenal. They have my admiration and respect. Obviously the victims are still coming to terms with it and we will continue to support them through that process.”

McCann, a convicted burglar who had been freed after a probation error, went on a cocaine and vodka-fuelled rampage, abducting, raping and assaulting victims aged between 11 and 71 in Watford, London, Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

On May 5, McCann tricked his way into the home of a woman after meeting her at the Live Lounge bar in Haslingden. He tied her up and molested her children, aged 17 and 11.

The teenage girl, who described McCann as “evil”, jumped out of a first floor window to alert police.

As McCann ran out after her, the 11-year-old boy cut his mother free, saying: “Mum, mum, we are safe. (My sister) saved us.”

Later that day, McCann pounced on a 71-year-old woman loading shopping in her car outside Morrisons supermarket in Ramsbottom.

He raped her and abducted and assaulted a 13-year-old girl in her car before they got away.

McCann changed his appearance and moved across five police force areas as he evaded police for 15 days despite telling his first victim his surname.

On his arrest, the violent offender, who had convictions for burglary, told police: “If you had caught me for the first two, the rest of this wouldn’t have happened.”

McCann, who had addresses in Aylesbury and Harrow, refused to attend his Old Bailey trial and his claim to have had consensual sex with some of his victims was dismissed as “ludicrous”.

The jury found him guilty of 37 charges relating to 11 victims, including eight rapes, false imprisonment and kidnap.

The Ministry of Justice has also launched an inquiry into why McCann was not recalled to prison after committing a burglary following his release from an indeterminate sentence for aggravated burglary.

Instead, McCann was automatically freed having served half of his sentence on February 15.

It is understood one Probation Service worker was demoted as a result of a review of four staff who had direct contact with McCann.