Thursday, October 7, 2010

Ex-boyfriend admits nurse murder at Blackpool hospital

7 October 2010 Last updated at 14:38 GMT

A man has admitted stabbing his nurse ex-girlfriend to death in a hospital car park in Lancashire, to evade charges of raping her.

Jane Clough, 26, was found with multiple stab wounds outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital on 25 July.

Former ambulance worker and father of her baby, Jonathan Vass, 30, admitted murder at Preston Crown Court.

Ms Clough, of Barrowford, was walking to her car after a shift at the A&E department when she was attacked.

Dennis Watson QC, prosecuting, said: "This was a murder that was intended to obstruct the course of justice, being on bail for the offences of rape two months prior to that trial date."

He told the court this assertion was not contested by the defence.

Vass, of Conway Drive in Preston, had been due to stand trial at Burnley Crown Court accused of raping Ms Clough.

Mr Watson said the crown had decided it was in the public interest that the rape charges should lie on file.

'Integrity undermined'

The prosecutor told the court Ms Clough's parents, John and Penny, had been told of the decision but did not agree with it as they felt their daughter's "integrity had been undermined".

Judge Anthony Russell QC said he agreed with the prosecution's decision.

"In comparison with the murder, anything else pales into insignificance," he said.

Vass, who was suspended and then eventually dismissed from his job as an ambulance technician, will be sentenced on 14 October.

Judge Russell told him: "There is only one sentence the court can impose for a crime as horrific as this and that is a life sentence.

"All I have is determine is how long it will be before you are eligible for release."

Ms Clough had worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital's A&E department for four years, where colleagues had described her as "very caring, compassionate and highly competent".

Her colleagues battled desperately to save her on the night of 25 July but she died of multiple stab wounds shortly afterwards.

Speaking after the court hearing, Det Supt Neil Esseen, who led the police investigation, said: "Jane's family remain devastated by their loss, they are a close knit family and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time."

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-11493020

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