DETAILS of a phone call hairdresser Katrina O'Hara made after she realised police had freed the man who went on to murder her were revealed at her inquest.

Stuart Thomas was found to be 'polite and plausible' during a police interview after he had been arrested for threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Ms O'Hara.

A detective recommended Thomas, now 53, be released on bail but failed to inform Ms O'Hara of the news.

Instead she was forced to call them after Thomas had tried to indirectly contact her to get her to drop the charges against him.

Ms O'Hara, 44, had to make the call on her daughter-in-law's phone as police had seized her mobile for evidence.

The transcript of the call that was made six days before Thomas stabbed her to death was read out at her inquest.

She said: "I gave a police statement 48 hours ago and was told I'd be informed if the person who was arrested was released on bail and I've not heard anything and I don't know if it is safe for me to go home.

"I'm now getting messages from the person who was arrested.

"This guy is blaming me for what he has done and I'm now fearing for my life."

Thomas had threatened to kill Ms O'Hara by crashing their car into a tree on Boxing Day 2015.

She made a complaint on December 29 and Thomas was arrested the following day.

The inquest heard evidence from Detective Constable Ian Davies who interviewed Thomas before he was released on bail.

He said he did not express any concerns about releasing Thomas to the custody sergeant as he was 'very plausible and polite'.

Thomas was released at about 10.45pm on December 30 with conditions that he should not contact Ms O'Hara directly on indirectly.

DC Davies said he called Ms O'Hara's home phone number at 10.48pm that night to keep her abreast of the case but got no answer.

DC Davies said he spoke to Ms O'Hara on the evening of January 1 to give her an update.

He said: "She was quite animated and upset as to why nobody had been in contact with her.

"I told her Thomas' account from the interview and that he was released on bail on the conditions not to contact her."

Dorset Assistant Coroner Brendan Allen asked DC Davies if Ms O'Hara had told him during this conversation that she had been contacted by Thomas.

He replied: "I don't recall that."

Ms O'Hara, of Okeford Fitzpaine was murdered by Thomas at the Blandford barber shop she worked at on January 7, 2016.

The inquest in Bournemouth continues.