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Probation services ignored 'several warning signs' which could have stopped the murder of a Nottingham mum.

For the first time, Nottinghamshire Live can reveal the extent of the failings by the National Probation Service which allowed a convicted murderer to kill again.

Family members of mum-of-six Janet Scott, 51, of Arnold, who was murdered on a city street by her former lover, have released a 56-page document which reviews the case.

The domestic homicide review released by Gedling Borough Council says the service "failed completely in its duty to involve other agencies in managing the risk he posed to women".

The report goes as far as saying had killer Simon Mellors been "managed effectively" there was "a strong likelihood that he would not have been at liberty to murder" Mrs Scott.

Janet's heartbroken sister, Sue Thomson, 61, of Carlton, said: "This report shows that Janet should not have lost her life.

"They say they have learnt from their mistakes but it is still happening all over the country. The probation service has cost people their lives.

"I don't believe anyone will be at peace. I don't think anyone will get over this."

Mellors bragged about owning two villas in Spain and being in charge of his own business to lure 51-year-old Janet Scott into a relationship.

But the reality was the former market trader, who had served 11 years for killing his previous partner, was actually looking for work after being released from prison.

Family describe Janet as a vulnerable mum-of-six who was searching for her soul mate, or what she used to call "her equal".

The former NHS worker, who later worked at a Lidl supermarket, met Mellors at a Nottingham bar but she did not know about his dark past.

In 1999 he murdered his former partner, Pearl Black, 36, beating her with an iron bar at her Bramcote home and then strangling her while her two young children slept next door.

Pearl had taken out two restraining orders against him and moved into a refuge during their 10-year relationship, the review panel found out.

He was released on licence in 2014 and struck up a relationship with Mrs Scott in April 2017.

Family said his controlling behaviour coupled with his murder conviction - which he was told to disclose by his probation officer - meant she struggled to sustain a relationship with him.

The review panel states he had even tattooed her name across his chest and demanded she do the same, even trying to gain employment at the same Lidl supermarket.

She even asked probation 'whether he would kill again', with the answer given as 'no one knows.'

Despite rejection being a trigger for Mellors' meltdowns, the review panel found there were three other women in his life on his release from prison before Mrs Scott - and their safety was also not effectively considered.

The review panel states: "They were very dangerous times for all these women but a stark lack of structure and focus on the part of the offender manager meant that he was in effect able to act with impunity."

Mrs Scott ended their relationship, but despite concerned calls to the probation service that Mellors was presenting frightening signs - such as following her to work at 4am - nothing was done.

On January 29, 2018, Mellors drove to Janet's home, stabbed her, and then managed to bundle her into his car. He drove her into the city centre but she managed to escape.

He then drove his car at speed into Mrs Scott and a council worker who had rushed to her aid.

She died in Peel Street while the council worker suffered serious injuries but has since recovered.

Mellors took his life a month later at Strangeways Prison in Manchester while awaiting his court date.

The panel said a suicide note was written before Mrs Scott was murdered.

It contained £1,500 in cash and mentioned a black folder, which allegedly contained documents to help 'clear up his mess'.

The prison service, despite being contacted on three separate occasions by the review panel, have not responded to the panel's request for information.

The panel said it was "extremely disappointed".

The 12-person panel, which is made up of key figures from the police, probation, county council, and health service, reviewed the case at Gedling Borough Council offices.

None of them knew or had any involvement with Janet Scott.

Chair of the panel Paul Johnston said in the report's conclusion: "There were numerous occasions when clear evidence of an increase in the risk of Adult A (Simon Mellors) causing serious harm to intimate female partners were overlooked by the National Probation Service.

"The service was aware of the circumstances surrounding the murder in 1999 yet they did not recognise he was increasingly behaving in the same way while on life licence.

"He consistently pushed the boundaries as far as complying with his licence conditions was concerned.

"When he failed to comply with them, sanctions were not imposed nor was he warned of the possible consequences should further breaches occur."

They said he had "at least four intimate relationships with women" and only chose to declare their existence after several weeks which was in breach of his licence.

The report stated: "The National Probation Service failed completely in its duty to involve other agencies in managing the risk he posed to women.

"Warning signs were ignored."

The report states that mandatory training to all staff has been given since Mrs Scott's death to increase awareness of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Staff are also being required to discuss these types of cases with a line manager.

Here are the main failings:

1.) A mental health nurse, working with Janet, raised concerns to probation about Mellors' controlling behaviour on a number of occasions. Had the risk been assessed as "imminent" by probation, police could have been informed and he could have been recalled to prison.

2.) In mid-January, just before her death, Janet told probation her relationship with Mellors was over and complained that on two consecutive days Mellors had 'stalked her' to work at 4am.

He had even sat outside in his car. Probation said they told Mellors to stay away but never informed the police, which could have resulted in enforcement action.

3.) Mellors had been in a relationship with three women before Janet. In the first relationship, probation did not ask for any information about the woman even her full name.

No safeguarding checks were made, which the review called 'a failing' as Mellors posed "a significant threat to women and the risk to them escalated when he experienced rejection."

4.) This continued into relationship number two when he told probation he had taken a woman back to his flat for "kissing and cuddling".

Again probation did not ask for any identifying details, which the panel said should have been done.

Later, she complained that she did not feel safe and secure in his company.

Probation told Mellors not to contact her again but he ignored this and sent her a birthday card.

Again no enforcement action was taken. Instead, probation reduced his appointments, which the panel described as "a bad decision."

5.) Mellors met a woman on a dating site and she had stayed overnight at his flat despite not disclosing his offending history, which he should have done.

The relationship ended when he disclosed his past. The panel said there appeared to be "no concern for her safety."

6.) When Janet found out about his past, she asked probation 'whether he would kill again.' Probation recorded their answer as 'nobody knows.' They did, however, discuss warning signs and triggers with her.

7.) Despite clear warning signs that Mellors was showing controlling and coercive behaviour - and probation saying they would monitor the situation - no plan was drawn up.

8.) On January 25, the mental health nurse again complained to probation about the 'unwelcome attention' Janet was getting from Mellors which could be "construed as stalking."

On the same day Mellors sent a text message to his probation officer saying he was going to Janet's house to collect his things. Probation did not check with Janet and should have insisted he stay away, the panel said.

9.) The mental health nurse was under the impression that because the probation service knew about Mellors' stalking behaviour he would be arrested as he was breaching the conditions of his licence.

The panel said the nurse took 'significant' steps to try and keep Janet Scott safe.

10.) The panel said there was "several warning signs" and that Janet's death "mirrored" what happened to Pearl in 1999. They said probation did not "consider raising the level of his supervision by involving other agencies, particularly the police".

They said "several significant opportunities to intervene in respect of domestic abuse were missed."

The Ministry of Justice, which manages the probation service, told Nottinghamshire Live: "This was a truly awful crime and our thoughts remain with the victim their family and friends.

"We apologise sincerely for the unacceptable failings that have been identified and Nottinghamshire Probation Service has taken a number of steps to avoid a repeat of this case.

"They have recruited 16 new staff, provided new training for officers on coercive control and stalking and have accepted all of the recommendations from the MAPPA Serious Case Review.

"NPS Midlands took immediate disciplinary action in relation to the member of staff responsible for this case."

An inquest into Janet Scott's death will be held this year.