AMANDA MURDER INQUIRY: THAMES Valley Police objected to killer Ian Cortis being given clearance to work as a nightclub doorman, after he failed to declare his convictions for rape.

But despite their concerns, Cortis was given accreditation under Reading Borough Council's Door Safe scheme and went on to use it to work for three years at Buds in Chippenham, where nursery assistant Amanda Edwards also worked as a cloakroom attendant.

Miss Edwards' body was found buried on a building site in Malmesbury eight days after she disappeared.

Cortis, a 42-year-old plasterer from Lineacre Close, Grange Park, Swindon, was given an eight-year jail term after being convicted of carrying out two rapes in Cornwall in 1987.

He was jailed in 1988 and served five-and-a-half years before being released on license. One of the conditions of his release being that he never returned to Cornwall.

He was arrested and questioned by Wiltshire police following 21-year-old Miss Edwards' disappearance on April 8,. He was held for 80 hours but was released from custody at midnight on Thursday April 15,due to a lack of evidence.

A day later, he was found hanged in Woodsage Way, Calne, the home of his father-in-law. Miss Edwards' body was discovered the same day.

Cortis applied to join Reading Borough Council's Door Safe scheme in November 2002 and as such was subject to a police check by Thames Valley Police.

A spokesman for the Force said: "Police checks were carried out on Ian Cortis but Thames Valley Police objected to him being granted accreditation due to the nature of previous convictions that he had not disclosed."

Reading Borough Council refused to comment on why Cortis was given accreditation under their scheme but said the council is investigating the matter.

But Karl Frost, a director of DJ Security, which employed Cortis from 2000 until November 2003, said he had been shocked to learn of Cortis's past.

"I am personally shocked and saddened to hear of Mr Cortis's previous convictions, especially since to work as a door supervisor, individuals must first produce a valid Door Safe qualification," he said.

"This is proof of training and suitability for employment and involves a police check on the individual."

Although Door Safe schemes are operated by West Wiltshire District Council and Swindon Borough Council, North Wiltshire District Council does not run its own scheme.

Under the current guidelines, door staff can work in areas without schemes if they are accredited by other district councils.

Mr Frost stressed that all his staff were required to show the proper accreditation to work and that Cortis's work had been to a high standard.

"He had shown himself to be both reliable and competent," said Mr Frost.

"DJ Security work closely with the Wiltshire Constabulary. Mr Cortis was known personally by many police officers and regularly assisted them with their enquiries, providing numerous formal statements."

But Mr Frost revealed that Cortis was sacked from DJ security in November 2003 for gross misconduct. Mr Frost would not comment on why Cortis had lost his job. The Gazette understands it was after an incident with a young woman.

Miss Edwards was a regular visitor to Buds, where she enjoyed nights out with friends.

Buds director Jeff Olsen said that she had also worked at the club as a cloakroom attendant. "She only did a few shifts for the company, but was remembered by other staff as being courteous and pleasant. All are saddened by her loss," he said.

Miss Edwards met Cortis through his wife Vilette and went on to babysit for the couple's two children.

Wiltshire Police are still trying to piece together her last movements after she dropped off her boyfriend David Board, 19, at his home in Bremhill on April 8.

Inquests were opened and adjourned into Miss Edwards and Cortis' death on Thursday at Trowbridge Town Hall.

Cortis used four dressing gown cords knotted together to hang himself by jumping through the loft hatch.