A MUM has questioned why a convicted sex offender was free to rape and murder her teenage daughter.
Andrea Hall’s 17-year-old daughter Ashleigh was kidnapped, raped and murdered by a man she met on Facebook.
And Mrs Hall also warned of the dangers of social networking sites after convicted rapist Peter Chapman, 33 – who was also suspected of other attacks – met her daughter online.
Chapman, who admitted kidnap, rape and murder, was jailed for life and told he would serve at least 35 years.
Speaking after the sentencing, Mrs Hall said: “Them sort of people should be tagged. I blame them for letting him out.”
Home Secretary Alan Johnson called today for police to “respond” to questions about the monitoring of Chapman as he expressed his “absolute” sympathy for the family.
Mrs Hall said she was powerless to have stopped Ashleigh going out.
“What could I have done?” she asked. “She was 17. You don’t stop your kids from going out. You tell them to be careful.
“That is the message, don’t go on your own.”
Her plea was echoed by Chief Superintendent Andy Reddick, who led the inquiry. He said: “Ashleigh’s death and this murder trial should be a wake up call to parents and internet companies around the world to ensure as far as they can, that nothing happens to another innocent victim.”
Chapman was jailed in 1996 for raping two prostitutes and was also suspected, though never charged, of carrying out other rapes and sex attacks against young women.
Judge Peter Fox jailed Chapman for life and said he would serve at least 35 years imprisonment before being considered for parole.