Free to kill: At least 21 men released on bail went on to attack women

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Speaking after the case, Inglis’s father Ian said: “He should never, ever have been put in her flat with my grandson and Claire – not with the criminal record he had.” More recent cases – which are not included in the figures – include that of mother-of-two Hayley Burke, 36, who was shot in the head by her ex-partner Jacob Cloke, who is said to have held her at gunpoint and pulled the trigger during a stand-off with police in May 2023. open image in gallery Marcus Osborne was handed a whole-life order for killing Steven Harnett and Katie Higton Abuser Marcus Osborne, 35, was last month handed a rare whole-life order for stabbing his ex-partner Katie Higton 99 times in a “ferocious and merciless” attack in May 2023, which he committed when he was given bail after being accused of domestic violence. Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, told The Independent: “These are shocking figures over a two-year period, and reveal a failure by the authorities to adequately assess risk, and a failure by police/probation to enforce or properly supervise offenders on bail or on licence, and to enforce non-molestation orders.” She said issues around the breaching of bail conditions and court orders were raised in a police super-complaint submitted by the CWJ in 2019. “We need immediate and effective police intervention in domestic abuse cases so that no more women’s lives are tragically cut short.” A government spokesperson said: “Bail decisions are made by the police and independent judges, but anyone who commits a crime while on bail rightly faces a tougher sentence.