Man who raped woman hours before his wedding jailed for life

A groom who raped a woman hours before marrying his pregnant girlfriend has been jailed for life, police said.

Derry McCann, 28, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of nine years on Friday afternoon at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the Metropolitan Police said.

The sex offender launched his "terrifying, violent and prolonged" two-hour assault as his victim was "within sight" of her front door in an east London park on January 13.

He was arrested by police on January 18 and charged the following day.

McCann, of Hackney, east London, admitted three counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration and one count of robbery on March 2 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

His conviction came a decade after he was jailed for carrying out a similar prolonged rape as a teenager.

It is understood he was handed a life sentence in 2006 for the violent act, which was also committed in a London park.

Detective Sergeant Stephen Porter, from the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, said the sentence was "completely deserved".

"I am sure he set out that night to carry out a sexual assault; the public needs to be protected from such predators," he added.