DERRY MCCANN AND SHOCKING RAPE IN LONDON'S VICTORIA PARK
Derry McCann, a 28-year-old man from London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following a brutal assault on a woman in east London.The incident occurred just hours before his wedding, while he was on parole for a very similar crime.
McCann’s actions have shocked the community and sparked widespread condemnation.
The crime took place in Victoria Park, located in east London, where McCann forcibly detained a 24-year-old woman who was walking back from an art exhibition.
Over an agonizing two hours, McCann subjected her to multiple acts of sexual violence, raping her on three separate occasions.
During this terrifying ordeal, he also engaged in psychological torment, taunting and degrading her throughout the encounter.
In addition to the sexual assaults, he stole her bra and her mobile phone, further adding to her trauma.
This conviction comes after a detailed investigation connecting McCann’s recent actions to his prior criminal conduct.
The Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that McCann was on parole when he committed this assault, having been released from prison just over a year earlier.
His previous incarceration was the result of a life sentence handed down for a similar rape committed in 2006, when he was only 17 years old.
During sentencing, Judge Martyn Zeidman emphasized the seriousness of McCann’s crimes and his ongoing danger to women.
The judge stated that McCann would not be eligible for parole for at least nine years, and he expressed the view that it might never be appropriate for him to be released.
Addressing the parole board directly, Judge Zeidman said, “In my opinion, you are, and are likely to remain, an exceptionally dangerous and violent criminal who poses an immediate threat to women, even after the lapse of the minimum term.” He further added that he was sending a copy of his remarks to the parole board to assist their assessment.
McCann was arrested after investigators identified a distinctive modus operandi and found striking similarities between this attack and his 2006 crimes.
During legal proceedings, he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, assault by penetration, and robbery.
The prosecutor, Kate Bex QC, described how McCann, after drinking with family and friends, had left a pub and then lay in wait in Victoria Park just before midnight.
CCTV footage showed him trailing another woman prior to selecting his victim.
The victim was subjected to degrading sexual acts over a prolonged period, during which McCann engaged in disturbing psychological manipulation, asking her repeatedly what they were doing.
When she responded that he was raping her, he appeared to derive pleasure from her words, Bex QC recounted.
The court learned that McCann’s earlier conviction in 2006 involved a similar pattern of brutality.
On that occasion, he raped and robbed a 30-year-old woman in Mile End Park, taunting her and insisting she act as though she was enjoying it.
At one point, he stroked her hair and claimed she was his girlfriend.
Throughout the 2006 case, McCann attempted to claim that the sexual acts were consensual, but the court convicted him on multiple counts: one of robbery, two of sexual assault, one of assault by penetration, and six additional counts related to rape and attempted rape.
He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 3,094 days, which was later reduced to a minimum of seven years after an appeal.
Despite this, he was released on parole in December 2015.
Judge Zeidman condemned McCann’s conduct during the recent attack as monstrous.
He described how McCann committed acts of rape and humiliation that amounted to torture, engaging in psychological mind games and inflicting profound physical and emotional pain.
“You behaved like a monster,” the judge stated.
The judge also pointed out that McCann married his pregnant girlfriend just hours after the attack, raising questions about his remorse and the broader implications of his actions.
The seriousness of McCann’s previous offenses was underscored, with the judge noting this was a horrific re-offense that added to the gravity of his recent actions.
While taking into account his guilty pleas and remorse, the judge sentenced him to life, emphasizing the extreme danger he poses.
McCann’s defense solicitor, Edmund Vickers QC, expressed that his client was devastated by his actions, even attempting suicide due to his remorse.
Vickers noted that McCann suffers from a history of childhood violence and dis-social personality disorder, circumstances that may have influenced his behavior.
The parole board has responded to the case, expressing their concern and commitment to learning from this tragedy.
They stated, “The board is deeply concerned to learn of the circumstances which led to this further serious offence, and we can only imagine the trauma and pain this has caused the victim.
We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent such terrible events from recurring in the future.”
