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The daughter of a man stabbed to death by an on-the-run killer and rapist has hit out after he was released from prison.
Rikki Stewart, 48, has been allowed out on temporary licence while serving a life sentence for the murder of Philip Haselip in 2003, reports the Daily Record.
The 52-year-old musician was battered with a roll of wallpaper and knifed at his home in Corby, East Midlands in November 2003 with his body discovered wrapped in a duvet by his son Christopher.
The Dumfries Killer, Stewart, has also been serving time following the death of his mum's boyfriend, Donald Nicholson in 2001 and the rape of a 53-year-old Dumfries grandmother in his hometown in 2003.
Philips daughter Lynette, 39, told how the family feel they have been failed by the authorities right from the start and believes Stewart will go on to offend again.
She said: The whole family is shocked that this can happen. Hes never shown any remorse for what hes done. Its just not acceptable, its dangerous and he will offend again, Im absolutely certain of that.
I dont think he can ever change. He murdered my dad when he was on the run from the other killing and the rape. So weve been let down continuously right from the start, not just now. The Ministry of Justice has made a huge mistake.
Im disappointed. You think people will make the right decisions to protect the public. I never thought I would have to explain what happened to my children, let alone the fact that hes out.
Stewart was wanted over the violent rape of the grandmother at the time he was convicted of Philip Haselip's death. He had also been a suspect in the murder of his mums infirm and defenceless partner during a row, but police were forced to let him go due to a lack of evidence.
He only confessed to the homicide of Mr Nicholson - who had been attacked 10 times with scissors and a knife - after he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of eight years for the murder of Philip. Philips twin brother Tony, 72, also slammed the decision to release Stewart.
He added: Its not a life sentence, is it? We are the ones who have been given the life sentence. Life should mean life - he should never have been let out.
To date he has had seven parole board meetings and on every occasion theyve not recommended him as suitable for release.
Lynette recalled meeting Stewart in the days leading up to her dad's murder. She was just 19 at the time. She said: "I was visiting dad's apartment and Rikki Stewart actually answered the door to me. I asked him who he was and he said he was just there to have a drink with my dad.
Lynette asked her father if he wanted anything from the shop but he declined, saying that they would see each other that weekend. She added: That was the last time I saw my dad.
Lynette returned to the property every day for the next three days but there was no answer. She then received a strange text message from her fathers phone.
The text message said How are you?, but it wasnt how my dad would normally message, Lynette said. She went round after work later that day and noticed the front door had been bolted shut from the inside and sounded the alarm.
The door wasnt right when I was knocking on it, she said. I tried the handle and I could see it was locked from the inside with a bolt, and I couldnt see in the windows.
Her brother then visited the property and bumped into Stewart as he was leaving - who told him: Your dads inside. Philips battered body was then found wrapped in a duvet in the laundry room of the building, having been stabbed three times in the chest. The rest is a bit of a blur for me after that point, Lynette said.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: Rikki Stewarts crimes were horrific and our thoughts remain with his victims families and friends. Prisoners only go on day release after being carefully risk-assessed, must abide by strict rules and face extra time behind bars if they dont comply.