On the second day of his trial, prosecutor John Price QC gave an account of the dramatic events leading to McCann's arrest on May 6.
He told the court of how the net began to close after two 14-year-old girls were allegedly coerced into a Fiat car driven by the defendant the day before.
At 6.44pm he was captured on CCTV buying condoms at a Shell Petrol station on the Clayton Bypass just a few miles away in the Greater Manchester area.
Meanwhile, the girls were in the Fiat, which the defendant had allegedly taken from a 71-year-old woman who had been kidnapped and raped earlier that day.
Mr Price told jurors: "By that time there was intense police activity in the area, bearing in mind the 999 calls that had been received during that day.
"Reports of children being taken from the street, the police having the description of (the 71-year-old's) car. They were looking for that car."
At 6.49pm Pc Michael Jennings spotted the Fiat at a roundabout at the bypass and set off in pursuit, recording it on his dashcam.
The Fiat crashed into a Mercedes car and the suspect fled on foot, leaving the two girls behind, jurors heard.
Mr Price said: "They were shocked, very frightened and distressed but otherwise mercifully unharmed."
McCann ran past a man in his front garden who asked if he was alright.
The defendant allegedly replied: "Shut the *advertiser censored** up" before pedalling off on a mountain bike.
At about 8.15pm the defendant reportedly made two phone calls in a restaurant in Scholar Green, Cheshire.
He was overheard asking to speak to "Charlene" before ordering a taxi, jurors heard.
The bicycle was abandoned outside the restaurant as the defendant was picked up by the taxi, jurors were told.
Police had set up roadblocks and the taxi was stopped on the A34 south of Congleton at 8.40pm.
Joseph McCann arrest came after being caught buying condoms, court hears