John and Penny Clough spoke at the recent 17 Annual GMB Women’s Conference, held in Liverpool and hosted by the GMB Women’s Network as part of the North West and Irish Region.
Their story a harrowing account on how the justice system failed their daughter Jane, failed her when she desperately needed and deserved protection from a domestic abuser who turned killer.
Jane Clough was a nurse in the Accident and Emergency department at a Blackpool hospital.
December 2009. After suffering torment, domestic violence and abuse at the hands or her ex-boyfriend Jonathan Vass, 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 in his position 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.
July 2010. Vass spied on her via face book, 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.
Link here to the facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Justice-For-Jane-Clough-146511358761335/
