A DAMNING report by a Government Inspector shows convicted rapist Anthony Rice was freed from jail because officials placed his human rights above protecting the public.

Rice, who had 22 previous convictions, including assaults of young girls, then went on to strangle a 40-year-old woman after stabbing her 16 times.

In an all too familiar pattern, no person is facing disciplinary action.

Perhaps if these people who are responsible for deciding who is released back into the community were aware that if they got it wrong they would face the sack and would think twice before the likes of Rice was let out early.

DAVID PEARSON, St Michael's Court, Blackburn.