Killer who strangled a woman with a pair of straighteners and drove around with her body in the boot of his car was on bail for two rapes at the time of the offence 

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A man who was sentenced to life in prison for strangling a woman with a pair of straighteners was on police bail for two rapes at the time of the incident. 

Lee Anthony Nolan killed Katelyn Parker, 24, with the appliance's power cable after a dispute on August 13 last year. The man, from Heywood, Greater Manchester, had been at Miss Parker's home address when he attacked her.

The 48-year-old then drove around with Miss Parker's body in the boot of his car and also bragged to an elderly man that he had killed a woman, a court heard.

Lee Anthony Nolan (left) killed Katelyn Parker (right), 24, with the appliance's power cable after a dispute on August 13 last year

It has now been revealed that Nolan, who was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years, was on bail after two women complained he had raped them.  

After his arrest, a third woman came forward to report that she too had been raped. 

Prosecutors who were reviewing the rape allegations said they did not have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

But one of Nolan's victims said she felt 'very let down' that Nolan was not remanded and said Katelyn may have been saved had action been taken sooner. 

'Nolan did not kill Katelyn in a fit of rage, he was a sadistic rapist who sort Katelyn out for her vulnerabilities. I cannot understand why the CPS came to the decision that they did. I feel this is a massive failure that could of and should of been avoided.

'I am a strong character - what hope is there for those who are not. It does not give much encouragement for people top come forward,' he added. 

Nolan's bail had been renewed four times while the rape allegations were investigated. But months after Nolan was arrested for murder, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no action. 

The 48-year-old then drove around with Miss Parker's body in the boot of his car and also bragged to an elderly man that he had killed a woman, a court heard. Above, the scene where the car was found

A CPS spokeswoman said: 'The CPS conducted a thorough review of all the evidence referred to us by Greater Manchester Police into these allegations and concluded that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

'The CPS reached a decision in December 2015 that there was insufficient evidence and that no further action should be taken in relation to allegations of rape by three complainants. Police enquiries into the allegations were continuing and the suspect was on police bail at the time that he was arrested in connection with the murder of Katelyn Parker.' 

A police watchdog is now investigating the actions of detectives in relation to the case

'The IPCC are investigating the way in which Greater Manchester Police and Kent Police dealt with reports of rape, alleged to have been committed by Mr Lee Nolan, made in July 2014 by two women,' the IPCC said. 

'Mr Nolan was arrested on 14 August 2015 by GMP on suspicion of murder and at this time he was on police bail in respect of the rape allegations.

'The IPCC investigation was suspended pending CPS decisions but will now  resume and examine whether GMP and Kent Police conducted timely, full and thorough investigations into the allegations.' 

Upon a search of the car the woman's body was found and Nolan was arrested on suspicion of murder with another man, who was later released without charge

Last week, Manchester Crown Court heard Nolan had been at Miss Parker's home address when he attacked her.

He then bundled her body into the boot of a blue Nissan before telling a 70-year-old man he picked up that he had killed a woman he was trying to buy cannabis from.

Police revealed Nolan showed the elderly man Miss Parker's body by pulling one of the vehicle's rear seats down.

Officers investigated the car after received a tip off. They spotted the car driving in Heywood the following day and after a short pursuit Nolan was detained nearby.

Upon a search of the car the woman's body was found and Nolan and the other man were both arrested on suspicion of murder. No further action was taken against the 70-year-old man.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that Miss Parker died from ligature strangulation.

Duncan Thorpe, senior investigating officer, described Miss Parker as 'vibrant and sociable'.

He said: 'What happened to Katelyn was a tragedy and her friends and family went through something that nobody ever should.

'I know the sentence passed here today won't change what happened but I hope it will go some way to giving them all some form of closure.'

In a statement at the time of her death, Miss Parker's loved ones paid tribute, saying: 'Katelyn was a loving and special person. She saw the best in everybody and was happiest when spending time with her friends and family.

'Katelyn was a vibrant and sociable young woman with a big heart and an even bigger smile. She will leave a void in all our lives and her death under such tragic circumstances is something that we will never be able to come to terms with.'