KILLER Ian Cortis was sacked from a part-time job as a bouncer at Buds nightclub in Chippenham after an incident with a young girl, the Gazette understands.

Police have declined to give any information on whether or not Cortis was arrested for any offence at that time.

Karl Frost of DJ Security, which supply the bouncers for Buds, said: "I do not want to speak of anything to do with Mr Cortis. No comment.''

Cortis, 48, moved to Wiltshire from Cornwall after serving four-and-half years of an eight-year jail term for two rapes in 1987 and 1988. He was allowed out early on licence on condition he never returned to Cornwall.

It was in the same nightclub that Amanda Edwards met her boyfriend David Board a year ago and last June celebrated her 21st birthday with him and other friends.

One regular at Buds in Station Hill told how he had been banned from the club for a year after a row over entry with Cortis.

"A couple of years ago, myself and a two friends went up there and Cortis refused us entry, saying we were drunk. But then, less than a minute later, he let a crowd of girls in who looked about 15 years old.

"When we complained about him letting them in, but not us, a row started and I ended up getting banned from the club for a year.

"I don't think he was particularly liked. I probably wouldn't have argued with him if I'd known then, what I know now.''

Several pubs in Chippenham town centre, who did not want to be identified, confirmed that Ian Cortis worked as a doorman at Buds nightclub through DJ Security until recently. Rumours alleged that he was sacked by the company after an incident at the nightclub involving a young woman, when he was arrested and taken to Melksham police station.

A former policeman, who did not want to be identified, said: "I am very surprised that Ian Cortis got away with working at Buds with two criminal convictions. They obviously didn't do any police checks on him.''

Cortis was found hanged at his in-laws' home in Woodsage Way, Calne, on Friday by his mother-in-law.

It is believed he killed himself after hearing news bulletins about the discovery of Amanda's body.

The deaths of Miss Edwards and Cortis are being investigated by two separate teams of police and his wife Vilette has been questioned.