One in nine victims of murder or manslaughter are killed by a thug out on bail, shocking figures have revealed

One in nine victims of murder or manslaughter are killed by a thug out on bail who could have been behind bars, shocking figures revealed last night.

In just one year, there were 57 unlawful killings – more than one a week – by suspects allowed to walk free while awaiting trial for other crimes.

Offenders on bail also committed an average of two rapes a week and a sex assault on a child almost every two days.

In one case a girl of 16 was raped by a pervert who was on bail following an attack on another teenager.

In total, 44,595 suspects who had been released by the courts were convicted of a crime – including more minor offences such as criminal damage. This amounts to a staggering 122 a day, or one every 12 minutes. The figures for 2013, released under Freedom of Information laws, will reignite the row over the often chaotic justice system.

Magistrates have been under mounting pressure in recent years to remand fewer suspects into custody to ease the burden on over-stretched prisons.

But critics said the figures proved that too many dangerous criminals were being released until their trial date – despite the risk to the community.

David Green, director of the think-tank Civitas, said: ‘The authorities appear to be so determined to keep down the cost of the Prison Service that they are prepared to endanger members of the public.’

Tory MP Michael Ellis, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: ‘These shocking figures indicate how important it is that our judges remember that before granting a suspect bail they consider the risk posed to the general public, including children. This is a truly terrible toll.’

Ministers have repeatedly insisted dangerous criminals should not be granted bail. But on many occasions they have been ignored by the courts – or judges and magistrates have got decisions catastrophically wrong.

According to the Ministry of Justice, there were 38 murders and 19 cases of manslaughter committed by those on bail in the last year for which figures are available.

Offenders on bail committed an average of two rapes a week and a sex assault on a child almost every two days (picture posed by model)

There were also 106 rapes – around one in ten of all those committed – and 149 sex assaults on children.

The MoJ admitted there had been 4,844 burglaries by criminals who had been given the benefit of the doubt by the courts – or 13 every day. This represented a staggering one in every six of break-ins.

There were also 543 cases of grievous bodily harm – among the most violent categories of non-lethal attack – by bailed suspects. Campaigners have also repeatedly warned of men accused of domestic violence being freed then going back to kill the victim.

While alarming, the number of suspects who flouted bail by reoffending is lower than during Labour’s last years in power – there were 69,372 in 2010 and 67,028 in 2009. But the revelations have alarmed ministers and officials who recognise that so many potentially avoidable crimes taking place is toxic.

Benefit of the doubt given to criminals

A Government source said: ‘There’s no doubt we have a tougher justice system under this Government.

‘Bail is also a matter for the courts – and we have to trust their judgment. But we simply can’t have a situation where the benefit of the doubt is being given to criminals who simply don’t deserve it.’

The figures include the appalling case of Patrick Sallabank, a jobless misfit, who was out on bail for the alleged rape of a girl of 16 when he raped a second teenager in October 2013. He was handed an 18-year jail sentence at Hull Crown Court last February.

In October 2010, ambulance technician Jonathan Vass, 30, was jailed for at least 30 years after murdering ex-girlfriend Jane Clough, 26, while on bail for her rape.

He had been freed by a judge, despite being accused of repeatedly attacking her at her Blackpool home while she was pregnant with his daughter.

Her father John Clough, 54, runs the Justice For Jane campaign group, which has been instrumental in a shake-up of the law which gave prosecutors the right to challenge a decision to grant bail.