CHESHIRE Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said he was 'disappointed' that a reported sighting of killer Barry Stone was not acted upon by the probation service.

Murder victim Nicola Sutton and her mum Lynn, had spotted Stone eight days after his release from jail driving, while banned, in an area of Orford he was forbidden to enter as part of his licence conditions.

The jury heard evidence from probation staff on the third day of the inquest at the town hall which revealed that such a breach of his licence would have been sufficient to recall him to prison - a month before the fatal attack but the sighting was not acted upon.

Mr Rheinberg said: "It seems to me disappointing that this reported sighting was not followed up rather better.

"James Lawler (Stone's offender manager) said if he had had credible evidence in the form of a written statement Barry Stone would have been recalled." Mr Lawler, who has the power to start the process for offenders' recall to jail, said he was accountable to the parole board and national probation guidelines meaning he had to have sufficient credible evidence to be able to send prisoners on licence back to jail - a process which disturbs their resettlement into society.

The inquest heard Nicola had notified the police about the sighting that night while Lynn called her daughter's women's safety officer Julie Gibbons the following day but neither the police nor probation service tried to obtain statements from the women.

It emrged that Ms Gibbons had decided that she 'doubted' Nicola would be willing to provide a statement to the police and the information was not seized upon.

Mr Rheinberg added: "I would have thought a diligent probation officer would want to check this was being followed through.

"It is easy to be critical after the event but you would want to pass that information on immediately - that is the whole point of partnerships - it is for the police to follow it up."