JONATHAN Vass was ‘freed to kill’.

That is the forthright view of Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson over the murder of nurse Jane Clough.

And it is hard to argue with it.

Vass had been charged with repeatedly raping Jane.

Astonishingly, Judge Simon Newell took the decision to release him on bail, with conditions that he kept away from Jane and Barrowford where they each lived.

After being freed, Vass went on to repeatedly stab Jane on the car park of Blackpool Victoria Hospital as headed home after a shift on the A&E.

If he had been remanded in custody, Jane would still be alive.

Yes, as the saying goes, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

But this is not just a case of simplistically looking back over an incident after everything has played out.

People charged with serious offences – Vass faced 13 counts of rape – should simply not be given bail.

They must be remanded in custody and held until their court cases are concluded.

While the principle of innocent until proven guilty remains, the alleged victims must be afforded the greatest protection.

Mr Stephenson also said the judge and legal system had let Jane and her family down.

That is an understatement.