A rape suspect wanted for three sex attacks on women may have been released from prison by mistake, the Ministry of Justice said today.

Joseph McCann, who is accused of abducting three women before raping them, is believed to have been released from prison early on licence because he was thought to 'no longer be dangerous'.

The 34-year-old, who police describe as 'extremely dangerous', is thought to have been released in February 2017 after being jailed for aggravated burglary.

The Ministry of Justice is reportedly conducting an 'urgent review' into the decision to release McCann, according to the BBC.

His release should have been decided by the Parole Board as he was subject to an indeterminate sentence but it was incorrectly treated as a 'determinate sentence' with an automatic release, the BBC reports.

McCann was thought to have been released after serving half of his three-year jail term. He committed the offence while on licence for a previous burglary.

In 2008 McCann, then aged 23, was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence for threatening to stab an 85-year-old man in his home.

Officers have issued an appeal to trace 33-year-old Joseph McCann (pictured) wanted in connection with the abduction and rape of two women

He told the elderly man 'give me money or I will knife you' before taking his wallet and banking papers.

McCann was given an indeterminate sentence, meaning he could only have been released if he convinced a parole board he was no longer dangerous. His release two years ago suggests he was able to do that.

The suspected rapist is now being hunted for abducting three women off the street before attacking them over a period of four days in April.

Initially suspected of two abductions and attacks, he is also wanted in connection with the rape of a 21-year-old woman at knifepoint in Watford in the early hours of April 21 - four days before the the first two incidents.

The victim was forced into a blue Mondeo and driven to numerous locations around the town for six hours, before she was raped.

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information which leads to the arrest and prosecution of McCann.

The Metropolitan Police issued an appeal with a £20,000 reward for information yesterday to trace McCann for two suspected abductions and rapes, after victims were snatched off the street in Chingford and Edgware, both in north London, before being raped.

The car he was driving is said to have been a silver or grey Ford S-Max people carrier with false registration plates (pictured)

McCann, who is known to use false names - most recently Joel - has links to Watford, Hertfordshire, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and Ipswich in Suffolk, police said.

As news of the third rape emerged, Hertfordshire Police said: 'We are investigating the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Watford in the early hours of Sunday 21 April. It is believed that a woman was approached by a man holding a knife in Hagden Lane, Watford, close to the junction with Rickmansworth Road at around 3.30am.

'She was forced into a blue Ford Mondeo and driven to numerous locations around the town over the next six hours. These included the Rushton estate in Watford, near to Watford Library on Hempstead Road, North Western Avenue, and the BP garage on Wiggenhall Road. During this time she was raped at an address in the town.

'A suspect was identified and a significant amount of work was done to try and locate and arrest him, which proved unsuccessful. The named suspect was circulated on our social media channels as wanted on recall to prison on Thursday (25 April) as a result of our investigation.

'The matter is being linked to the offences currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service.'

A map showing where the women were abducted and the location of the guesthouse in Watford

It has emerged that one of the women abducted in north London, who were both in their 20s, managed to escape following her abduction on April 25 after smashing a vodka bottle over the kidnapper's head.

McCann is of muscular build and 5ft 10ins tall. He has blue eyes, a bald head or shaved blond hair with a light-coloured short beard.

Police say he has a slight Irish accent. He is a distinctive tattoo of the name 'bobbie' on his stomach.

Officers believe McCann may attempt to disguise his appearance.

Police have already released a CCTV image of the suspect, which was captured by cameras at a hotel in Osbourne Road, Watford at 1pm on Thursday.

The first woman had been abducted from a street in Chingford at 12.30am on Thursday, 25 April.

The second woman taken from a street in Edgware 12 hours later, at 12:15pm.

The women were driven to the hotel in Watford and an attempt was made to book a room around 1pm.

At around 2.30pm, a struggle between the women and the suspect took place on Osborne Road in Watford.

Police said the two women had been in the car while the suspected attacker went into the bed and breakfast in Watford (pictured)

Yesterday it emerged that the attacker asked to book Room 15 at the Phoenix Lodge guest house.

He told the manager he wanted a double room for two nights on Thursday before signing the register book.

Police said the two women had been in the car while the suspected attacker went into the bed and breakfast.

Roughly an hour-and-a-half later, one of the women, who was said by a witness to be pregnant, escaped from the car on Osbourne Road and managed to seek help at a nearby shop after she smashed a bottle of vodka over the kidnapper's head.

She was said to have been bleeding profusely from her hand when she rushed into the Watford shop, revealing she had been kidnapped and managed to escape - and that another woman was still in the car.

As the women escaped, two builders were reported to have heroically chased off the rapist after they heard the women screaming.

Officers are still to trace a silver or grey-coloured Ford S-Max people carrier in connection with the offences.

This reportedly had false registration plates.

The attacker asked to book Room 15 at the Phoenix Lodge guest house in Watford, Hertfordshire, telling the manager he wanted a double room for two nights on Thursday before signing the register book

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: 'We would ask anyone with any information about McCann's whereabouts to contact us immediately.

McCann is considered extremely dangerous and a risk to the public and we ask people not to approach him, but instead call 999.

'If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers. It is vitally important we trace him in connection with these offences.

'My team continues to work around the clock and we are making progress in furthering the investigation.'

The women, both in their 20s, have been left 'traumatised' and are receiving support from specialist officers.

The investigation, into what officers are treating as two random but linked attacks, is being led by officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

It is being supported by other specialist and local officers as well as Hertfordshire Constabulary.

A 33-year-old man arrested on Sunday, 28 April on suspicion of conspiracy to rape has been released under investigation.

Anyone who can help is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8244 or 999 quoting CAD 3041/25Apr.