Rapist Joseph McCann's friends and family under investigation 'for helping him evade capture' during two-week rampage

Serial rapist Joseph McCann’s friends and family are under investigation over suspicions they helped him to evade capture and be able to carry on offending during his two-week rape rampage .

The 34-year-old abducted and attacked three women between April 21 and April 29 in London and Watford, sparking a nationwide manhunt and mass publicity of his name and picture.

But McCann was able to stay free for 15 days until his capture in the early hours of May 6, while hiding in a tree in Congleton, Cheshire.

It can now be revealed that six people were arrested in June during an investigation into how McCann managed to stay free for so long and go on to carry out a string of attacks on women and children.

A 64-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man were arrested in Aylesbury, where McCann is originally from, while a 27-year-old man was arrested in Watford.

A 32-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were detained in Birmingham, and a 34-year-old man was arrested in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

They were all questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender and have been released under investigation, the Scotland Yard said.

Officers also found a stun gun and a CS spray during the Cheshunt arrest.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who led the manhunt for McCann, said he went to ground after his name and picture was made public, and “obviously had a support network of people willing to hide him and move him around the country.”

She confirmed six people are under investigation “around where he was”.

McCann boasted during his crime spree about being connected to a “firm” and had links to associates across the country.

Evidence during his trial has shown McCann using disguises, different vehicles, and aliases as he evaded police and continued to carry out attacks.