A serial sex offender who told a probation officer he was tempted to rape again before murdering a nurse walked free after making ‘excellent progress’ in jail, an inquest heard.

Despite making the confession Leroy Campbell was not deemed to pose a risk by the National Probation Service and released from prison in July 2016.

Four months, he raped and strangled Lisa Skidmore to death after climbing through her bedroom window.

Campbell, who had been in an out of jail for violent offences against women since 1983, was released on licence after serving 16 years for a brutal attack on another woman.

His probation officer Laurence Watkins said the serial offender was recommended for release after he completed a therapy course said to reduce re-offending.

Mr Watkins told the hearing: ‘Leroy Campbell made excellent progress.

‘He was clearly motivated to lead a law-abiding life in the community. This view was supported by other professionals.’

Watkins, who had been Campbell’s assigned probation officer since 2014, was on leave when a colleague, Audrey Spence, met Campbell at his hostel in Forest Road, Moseley, Birmingham.

Giving evidence at Black Country Coroner’s Court, Watkins said: ‘Campbell told Audrey Spence he had concerns and voiced concerns that he was noticing open windows and was also thinking of committing offences of a similar nature to his previous offence.

‘Police went to see him and assess his risk. I went to see my senior probation officer, Alison Moss.

‘Her response was she was aware of what had gone on and his admission.

‘She concluded that his risks had stabilised and he did not pose an immediate risk.’

Watkins said he remained Campbell’s probation officer until he was sentenced to life with no prospect of release, but ‘post-traumatic stress’ eventually forced him to take time off work.

A coroner was told on Monday how Campbell climbed through the bedroom window of Lisa’s Bilston home.

When Lisa’s mum Margaret, 80, arrived two hours later, he also attempted to kill her with a chord of a vacuum cleaner before setting the house on fire.

The inquest also heard how Campbell tried to cover up the murder by planting DNA in the house from two people who were in no way involved in the crime.

DC Simon Lee told the jury: ‘At 7.50am on November 24, Campbell can be seen on CCTV leaning ladders up against the rear of Miss Skidmore’s house.

‘He climbs the ladders towards her bedroom window. His actions once he enters the address are unknown.

‘Margaret Skidmore is later caught on CCTV walking towards Lisa’s address.

‘She arrived and he assaulted her. He put the chord of a vacuum cleaner around her neck and pulled it tight. She lost consciousness.

‘Mrs Skidmore awoke and called emergency services. Neighbours entered the house and helped Mrs Skidmore into a chair.

‘They thought Lisa Skidmore was upstairs but were prevented from going up by the thickness of the smoke.

‘The emergency services found Lisa Skidmore in a foetal position under her bedding in her room. She was not bound in any way. She was declared deceased at 11.12am.

‘One of the rings in the kitchen was on and there was a charred match next to the ring.

‘It was a deliberate attempt to cause an explosion.

‘Blood from Lisa Skidmore was found on a towel in the bathroom. Campbell previously made victims wash themselves in an attempt to remove incriminating evidence.’

Lisa’s brother Thomas paid an emotional tribute to his sister at the start of the hearing: ‘As a nurse, she would always go the extra mile for her patients. From the day she started nursing she was always accountable for her actions.

‘Her life was brutally cut short and her mother was nearly killed. There are no amount of words to explain the devastation.

‘For 17 years she devoted her life to caring for other people. In her last two hours, no one was there for her.

‘She was one of the most caring, kind, sensitive people you would meet.

‘Margaret has lost not only her daughter but her carer. The pain never goes away.

‘One hundred nurses lined the road for her funeral. She was well-respected in her profession.

‘We just want to find out what happened and if anything can be put in place to stop it happening again so other families don’t go through what we went through.”

The inquest, which is expected to last eight days, will continue on Tuesday.

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