Murdered nurse ‘let down by justice system’

The parents of a nurse stabbed to death in Blackpool by her paramedic ex-boyfriend on bail for allegedly raping her have said the justice system had let them down twice.

John and Penny Clough were angry their daughter’s killer was released pending the rape trial and the matter was allowed to lie on file yesterday as he pleaded guilty to her murder.

Jonathan Vass, 30, knifed Jane Clough, 26, in a frenzied attack as she returned to her car following a shift at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July this year. She was taken to the accident and emergency unit where she worked just 100 yards away as her colleagues battled in vain to save her.

Mr Vass was facing allegations at the time of the killing that he had raped her on several occasions. He was released on conditional bail pending a trial due to be held this month.

Preston Crown Court heard Mr Vass, of Preston, Lancashire, murdered Miss Clough with the intention of obstructing the course of justice in the rape hearing. The Crown Prosecution Service said it was content for the rape allegations to lie on file – to the disagreement of Mr and Mrs Clough, from Barrowford, Lancashire.

Judge Anthony Russell QC then commented it was in the public interest to drop the matter because “in comparison with the murder, anything else pales into insignificance”. Those words sparked fury from the distraught couple who branded the judge as “disgraceful” outside court.

Mrs Clough said: “I think it’s disgraceful to say rape is not significant. I wonder if this man (the judge) is a father. Any woman who has been raped lives with that full torment every day.”