A SEX-attaker who, after leaving prison, murdered a Weeke mother, should not have been released, inspectors have said.

They added that there were "substantial deficiencies" in the way Anthony Rice, 49, was dealt with once he was back in the community at Elderfield in Otterbourne, a property run by the Langley House Trust to rehabilitate ex-offenders.

The findings were in a report published yesterday by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.

The independent body was called in by Mappa -- a team of Hampshire probation, police, and prison staff -- after Rice stabbed and strangled Naomi Bryant, 40, at her home in Rowlings Road, Weeke, last August.

Rice was handed a double life sentence by Winchester Crown Court in October.

During Rice's nine-month stay at Elderfield, he also attacked a woman in Southampton.

The inspectors' report concluded that Rice should have remained in prison.

Andrew Bridges, chief inspector of probation, said: "There were substantial deficiencies in the way Rice was supervised by probation and its partners in Mappa, but in any case he was too dangerous to be released into the community."

The document said Rice, originally from Dundee, only went to Elderfield after serving 15 years for attempted rape because police in northern England advised a similar ex-offenders' project from housing him.

The report added that a full assessment of whether Elderfield was suitable never occurred.

Inspectors also argued that Mappa placed too much weight on Rice's redeeming points and too little on his flaws.

The inspectors decided that it was the system and not individuals who were to blame.

Describing it as a "cumulative failure", they said poor communication and procedure was at fault both before and after Rice's release.

Inspectors are recommending a four-point action plan, including steps to give public safety greater weight in future cases.

Hampshire Assistant Chief Constable Steve Watts, said the force had conducted its own review and introduced measures to improve its procedures, without the need to wait for the report recommendations.

Hampshire Probation Area chief officer Barrie Crook said: "We have begun to implement actions that will improve our public protection practice, where all probation staff will receive additional training in risk assessment and management."