A BRAVE couple who helped to save a neighbour after discovering her lying bleeding in the street have blamed the Probation Service for allowing her attacker to be freed.

Mum-of-four Ashley Arnold was found in the road near her home after being attacked with a meat cleaver by boyfriend Kerry Roberts.

Neighbours Bryan and Margaret Whitcomb rushed to her aid.

They called for the police and helped give her first aid until paramedics arrived.

Mr Whitcomb said Roberts should never have been free to commit the horrific attack on his then girlfriend.

He was on licence at the time, after being jailed for six years for setting fire to a former girlfriend’ s home.

“I don’ t think Roberts should have been out on licence,” said Mr Whitcomb.

“I blame probation for letting him out – they should have kept him in. The man clearly needed help."

“I have spoken to the poor woman since. She’s terribly scarred, but said she's getting over it."

MP Douglas Carswell also hit out at the probation service.

He said: “ How many horrendous crimes does someone have to commit before probation realises someone has to be locked up?

“What we need is a criminal justice system that punishes people and sticks to that punishment.

“Probation has had a long history of encouraging criminals to move to our area and they seem to be on the side of the offender, not the law-abiding majority."

The Ministry of Justice said offenders given determinate prison sentences are released on licence at the halfway point of their sentence.

The remaining half is served in the community on licence where they are subject to strict conditions and controls. If offenders breach these they are liable to be recalled to prison.

A spokesman said: "Our sympathies are with the victim and her family following this horrific crime.

"Public protection is our priority and we are determined to have the best possible systems in place to supervise offenders in the community and protect the public.

"In all cases of serious further offending, a review is carried out to identify any learning for the management of future cases."