Jane Clough was a nurse in the Accident and Emergency department at a Blackpool hospital. After suffering torment, domestic violence and abuse at the hands or her ex boyfriend Jonathan Vass, in December 2009 Jane took a brave step by reporting this to the police, and in doing so took a huge leap of faith in our legal system.
Vass appeared in court charged with no less than nine counts of rape, one of sexual assault and three counts of common assault, some of which had taken place when Jane was heavily pregnant, others whilst the new baby lay next to her sobbing mother in the cot close to the bed.
It is important to mention at this point that the Judge Simon Newell had evidence that Vass had attacked his ex wife in the same way.
Judge Simon Newell decided Vass was not a threat and freed him on bail.
Jane was living in fear of her life. She was in so much fear she moved back in with her parents for protection. Eventually she found the courage to begin to continue with her life and returned to work following maternity leave.
In July 2010 Vass spied on her via Facebook, waited for her outside her workplace, and then viciously attacked her.
Jane was stabbed over 19 times before having her throat slashed.
Evidence shows Vass murdered Jane to avoid a rape trial.
Q) Why is it you report a crime and end up being murdered for doing the “right thing”?
Q) Why wasn’t Jane allowed to appeal bail when Vass had the right to appeal if bail had been refused?
At the murder trial Judge Russell sentenced Vass to a minimum of 30 years for murder but left the rape charges on file, dismissing them as insignificant.
If anyone asks why women can be reluctant to report rape, the tragedy of Jane Clough provides the answer.
Latest Update
On Friday 10 February 2012 the Leeds UNISON Branch received an email giving an update that the House of Lords in Parliament had accepted a government amendment to the bail law giving the Crown Prosecution Service the right to appeal bail being granted by a crown court judge. The campaign is continuing with the other aims below and it still needs all the support we can give. But it shows that campaigning for change can bring about the changes we want.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-16968088
The Aims of the Justice for Jane Campaign:
- The 1976 Bail Act needs urgent review and change. Judge Simon Newell is “hiding” behind this act as a way of trying to justify why he let Vass free on bail. If this Bail Act is so poor that the victims of crime are at risk by Judges implementing it, it is obviously not fit for purpose.
- Rape charges should not be “laid on file” by a judge without the agreement of either the victim or the next of kin. Without that agreement, all charges must be proceeded through to trial. It must be seen by the public that rapists are prosecuted at every opportunity.
- Judges must be made openly accountable for bail decisions that they are responsible for that result in harm, injury or death of victims/ witnesses. There must be procedures in place to investigate and question how the bail decision was made, and was it the correct decision, and what actions can be taken to prevent that harm from happening again in the future?
- Better training for judges in matters of abuse, sexual abuse and rape matters. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC has already highlighted that this is much needed. It must be implemented as a matter of urgency.
- A Victim Justice System to be promoted by the Government, the Police, the Judiciary, the CPS. Currently the rights of victims seems to be secondary compared to the defendant, the must be redressed, and victims rights, especially their rights to safety, must be foremost.
- The implementation of a complaints system that deals with Judges actions as well as their behaviour, it is not reasonable that victims only recourse is via a hugely expensive civil action route if they perceive justice has not been done.
- If Judges seek to apply a ruling of “not in the public interest”, a full, open and accountable explanation must be given to support that ruling.
- Proper financial compensation for victims of crime (comparable to industry) when injury or death occurs due to a decision made by a judge.
Links
Campaign Website
http://www.justiceforjane.co.uk/
Sign the online petition
http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/justice-for-jane-clough/3123
