This is the dramatic moment police finally caught serial sex attacker Joseph McCann after they found him hiding in a tree.

Hundreds of officers were deployed in the manhunt for McCann, 34, for over two weeks before he was arrested early on May 6 in the Cheshire town of Congleton.

It came just hours after he forced two 14-year-old girls into a car and kidnapped them, but police spotted him and he crashed and fled following a short pursuit.

Footage released by police shows McCann's arrest after he hid up a tree after going on the run. He was arrested in the early hours of May 6 in the Cheshire town of Congleton

McCann ran away, leaving the terrified friends uninjured, but was spotted in a taxi before fleeing once again across fields - and was found up the tree an hour later.

Police arrested McCann at about 3am following a negotiation after he was found up a tree near Smithy Lane, two miles outside Congleton.

Joseph McCann was convicted of a campaign of kidnappings, rapes and sex attacks

McCann allegedly used a 'support network' and adopted fake names and disguises in a determined effort to continue his unprecedented spree of sex attacks.

Scotland Yard have said they believe McCann used contacts across the country to evade justice as he moved across five police force areas.

As he was convicted today, it emerged that six people had been arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of assisting an offender.

They include four men, aged 27, 30, 34 and 66, and two women, aged 32 and 64, who were arrested at addresses in Cheshunt, Watford, Aylesbury and Birmingham.

McCann, 34, who had been released from prison in February, was quickly identified as a suspect in his first attack on April 21 and placed on the Police Network Computer by Hertfordshire Constabulary.

McCann was caught on CCTV buying petrol and condoms at a Shell garage with two 14-year-old girls abducted in a Fiat car on May 5, just hours before police found him hiding up a tree

But the Metropolitan Police did not make the connection with two further attacks in London on April 25 until a member of the public rang in to identify McCann as the suspect captured on CCTV at the Phoenix Lodge Hotel.

Probation worker sacked after McCann recall shambles The head of HM Prisons and Probation Service, has apologised 'unreservedly' for failings in the Joseph McCann case. The Ministry of Justice 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. Four probation officers from the Watford office faced a disciplinary, the BBC reported today, one of whom was demoted. In a separate investigation, another worker was sacked and another had their contract terminated. Advertisement

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: 'He was an incredibly difficult man to find throughout that period of time. There was a lot of activity going on. We put up a £20,000 appeal for his whereabouts.

'However, he obviously had a support network in place of people willing to help him and move him around the country.

'Normally when someone has committed an offence you would expect him to hide, but he carried on offending. It clearly shows the kind of dangerous individual he is.'

McCann resurfaced on May 5 in north-west England, where he continued to rape and sexually assault victims, including children as young as 11.

Ms Goodwin said: 'I think it's fair to say he's one of the most dangerous individuals we have ever come across.

'We can see how he has behaved throughout the process. He is incredibly manipulative and controlling and appears to have enjoyed the distress and trauma he has caused to them throughout.'

CCTV shows McCann at a McDonald's drive through with two victims still in his car on April 25

A map shows the trail of misery McCann wrought across Britain in two weeks in April and May

'He has acted in an evil manner throughout. We have never got to know what it is that has motivated him to do this because he has never spoken to anyone.'

The 11 victims of McCann two-week reign of terror London crimes McCann’s first victim was a 21-year-old single mum walking home from a nightclub in Watford in the early hours of the morning on April 20. After bundling her into his car he forced the victim to drive to her flat where he raped her on her own bed.

Five days later a 25-year-old woman walking home from work was snatched off the street by McCann just yards from her home. The woman endured a 14 hour ordeal while repeatedly raped in McCann’s car.

A 21-year-old woman was then snatched off the street while his second victim was still in the car. She was raped and forced to carry out degrading sex acts. North West crimes On May 5, McCann struck again after meeting a woman at a bar in Lancashire and going back to her home. He tied the woman up with cable from her hairdryer and then subjected her 17-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son to a horrific four hour sex ordeal where they were both raped.

McCann then abducted a 71-year-old woman in the car park of a supermarket. He later raped her in the car during a five hour ordeal.

He then abducted two 13-year-old boys and a 13-year-old girl in Manchester. The girl was sexually assaulted while the boys were released.

His final victims were two 14-year-old girls who crouched in terror on the back seat of his stolen car while being chased by police. Advertisement

On whether police did all they could to catch him, she said: 'It was an incredibly challenging investigation from the outset.

'Five forces, as and when they became involved, were working closely together throughout the investigation. Hundreds of officers were deployed in the manhunt.'

But she added: 'I can't forget the fact there were further victims throughout the course of that and that is something I think about - could anything have been done differently?

'We were working against someone who was highly motivated to evade arrest and continue offending while he was being actively sought throughout the country.

'He used a number of different names, a number of vehicles, disguises and wigs, change of clothing.

'And I think he was being assisted by others and there is an ongoing investigation into that.'

Ms Goodwin paid tribute to the bravery to the victims, saying: 'Most of us who have heard the details ... what the victims have been through - what Joseph McCann has put the victims though - is absolutely horrendous and will stay with them and their loved ones for the rest of their lives.

'I cannot even begin to imagine how they were feeling whilst they were detained, some for up to 14 hours.

'Whilst they were being threatened, their loved ones were being threatened, they must have genuinely feared for their lives.

'The victims themselves have been very brave throughout the entire process, they have all come to court and given evidence against this man.

'We have heard how they had to save their own lives by escaping from him. One young lady jumped out of a window, causing herself significant injury and pain in order to save her family.'

She praised an 'incredibly brave' victim who 'took an opportunity to hit McCann over the head with a vodka bottle to save her and another young lady who he had been holding captive'.

She added that officers had also been 'deeply affected', saying: 'They feel so strongly it was unprecedented and some of the most shocking offending they have every seen.'