AFTER a shocking fortnight-long rampage of rape and kidnapping, psychopath Joseph McCann was this week given 33 life sentences.
A senior Scotland Yard detective said McCann’s were the worst sexual offences her team had ever seen. She described the 34-year-old as evil, manipulative and cunning, adding: ‘He clearly is a horrendously dangerous individual. Each person feared for their lives while they were held against their will.’
The rape victims ranged from a boy of 11 to a woman of 72, the Old Bailey was told. Sentencing McCann, Mr Justice Edis said: ‘This was a campaign of rape, violence and abduction of a kind which I have never seen or heard of before.
‘Among other things you are a coward and a violent bully and a paedophile.
‘You are entirely obsessed with yourself. In your world other people exist only for your pleasure and you have no ability to see the world in anybody’s eyes other than your own.
‘You are a classic psychopath.’
If ever someone could be described as not fit to live, that would be Joseph McCann, who was out of prison on licence when he launched his disgusting series of attacks.
Yet for the next 30 years at least he will be kept fed and warm in prison at an annual cost to the taxpayer of at least £40,000 while his victims try and fail to come to terms with their horrific ordeals.
In my opinion, monsters such as McCann should be told they will be subject to a harsh regime and will never be released, then given the option of a suicide pill to end their lives. A principal objection to the death penalty is that some of those executed were wrongly convicted. But those who know they are innocent and live in hope of clearing their name could refuse the pill. The rest should do the world a favour and leave it.