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A 'dangerous' man wanted over the rape of three women is suspected to have abducted two more this evening.

Police have sealed off Congleton town centre in a bid to find Joseph McCann.

The 34-year-old is wanted after two women were forced into a black Fiat Punto in the Cheshire town at 6.45pm today.

McCann is the chief suspect after two women in London and one in Watford were raped at the end of last month.

Cheshire Police this evening say the Fiat Punto was spotted a short time after the abduction by officers and a car chase ensued.

The car crashed into another and stopped with the alleged abductor - suspected to be McCann - fleeing on foot.

The two women were left in the car.

(Image: Google)

Residents in Congleton say a police helicopter has been heard overhead 'for hours'.

Superintendent Sarah Pengelly said: “McCann is a dangerous individual and I would advise anyone who sees him not approach him but instead call us immediately on 999.

"Enquiries to locate him are ongoing and there is a large police presence in the Congleton area. This includes road checks in and out of the town.

"The two women abducted in Congleton were not injured.

"However, they have been left extremely shaken as a result of their ordeal and are currently being supported by specially-trained officers.”

McCann is described as being muscular, about 5ft 10ins, and he has a "distinctive" tattoo of the name "bobbie" on his stomach.

He is said to have blue eyes, a bald head or shaved blond hair with a light-coloured beard, and a "slight" Irish accent.

He is the chief suspect in three sex attacks which are being linked by detectives.

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The first attack took place in Watford on April 21 where a woman was approached by a man armed with a knife who drove her around in a car for six hours then raped her.

On April 25, two women were abducted in Chingford and Edgware within the space of 12 hours.

They were both raped then driven to a hotel in Watford where their attacker was unable to book a room. Soon after they managed to escape during a struggle.

Shortly before 11pm on Sunday Met Police tweeted: "We are aware that police in Cheshire are investigating an abduction in Congleton this afternoon in which two women were forced into a car.

"We are working closely with our colleagues at Cheshire Police as part of our investigation to trace Joseph McCann".

On Thursday Met Police said they believe he is being hidden by a friend or family member.

Speaking on May 2, outside Scotland Yard HQ, Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: “We are investigating three horrific incidents of rape and abduction against women and we are appealing for help from the public to locate Joseph McCann, who is wanted for questioning in connection with the offences.”

(Image: PA)

She said there is no evidence to suggest he has left the country but is being harboured at a property in the UK.

“Our enquiries strongly indicate that McCann is being hidden by someone who knows him."

The Met has offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to McCann's arrest and prosecution.

The Ministry of Justice launched an urgent review after it emerged McCann may have been wrongly released from prison in February.

He was freed automatically half-way through a three-year sentence for burglary and theft - but should have gone before a parole board, it is understood.

McCann is believed to have been subject to a life-long licence after he was released from prison in February 2017 having served 10 years of an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) for an aggravated burglary.