A MAN has pleaded guilty to repeatedly beating and raping a stranger in east London hours before he was due to get married.
Derry McCann, 28, of St. Peters Way, Hackney, pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one count of robbery when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court today, March 2.
McCann will be sentenced at the same court on April 28.
At about 11pm on Thursday, January 12, the victim, a woman in her mid 20s, was walking home near Victoria Park, Grove Road, E3, after an evening out with friends.
She suddenly became aware of McCann who was loitering near the pathway.
As she tried to pass him, McCann grabbed her and pulled her towards some benches.
He then told the victim to be quiet and made it clear that he would hurt her if she resisted.
She tried to placate and reason with McCann as much as possible but he hit her in the face.
The victim was subjected to a drawn-out attack during which she was raped, beaten and humiliated.
When the ordeal was over, McCann took photos of his victim and said that she was lucky that he did not video it.
He stole her mobile phone as he made off from the scene.
Hours after the attack, he went on to get married.
The distressed victim was able to make her way home and reported the incident.
An investigation began immediately by detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command.
McCann was identified as the suspect based on a description the victim provided and was arrested on Wednesday, January 18 but refused to answer any questions.
The victim, however, bravely identified McCann in an identity parade.
Detectives believe that McCann had been following another woman immediately before the rape, but he had lost track of this woman and then stalked his eventual victim.
On Thursday, January 19 McCann was charged.
Detective Inspector Lee Davison from the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command said: "This man is a vicious predator and an extreme danger to women.
"He preyed on his victim and set out to degrade her physically and psychologically.
"No one should have to endure what she was forced to go through and I want to formally pay tribute to her courage and determination.
"It is through her bravery we have been able to bring McCann to justice."
See More: Derry McCann, Featured, Met Police, Wedding Day
