Nicola Edgington had killed her mother six years earlier, but was released to live in the community.
She was found guilty at the Old Bailey last month of murdering Sally Hodkin, 58, and attempting to murder Kerry Clark, 22.
Both women were on their way to work in Bexleyheath, southeast London, in October 2011 when Edgington attacked them with a knife.
Shortly before, Edgington walked out of a mental health unit where she was taken by police after her mental health deteriorated.
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that a number of police
blunders led to Edgington carrying out the attacks.
The
32-year-old made five 999 calls just hours before asking to be sectioned under
the Mental Health Act because she believed herself to be a danger.
Sally Hodkin was on her way to work
But
Metropolitan Police staff failed to carry out a police national computer (PNC)
check on her which would have alerted them to her previous conviction for the
manslaughter of her mother, the IPCC said.
Edgington
also sought help at a local hospital from where she called 999.But after delays in admitting her, she walked out.
The IPCC found officers only contacted the hospital following her fourth phone call and said Edgington's second 999 call from the A&E department was downgraded because she was considered to be in a place of safety.
An
officer was not dispatched at this stage despite Edgington's claim she could be
very dangerous, it found.
Edgington
was said to have a borderline personality disorder and was found to be
emotionally unstable and regularly blamed others for her situation.She was ordered to be detained indefinitely at a secure hospital after stabbing her mother nine times in 2006.
Doctors diagnosed schizophrenia and she pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
But medics at the Bracton Centre ruled she was well enough to be treated in the community after three years.
At the Old Bailey Judge Brian Barker told Edgington, 32, her behaviour had been "consistent and calculated".
He said:
"You are manipulative and exceptionally dangerous. What you did could not
have been more selfish.
"I
disagree that the responsibility for these acts can be laid on others."You made your choice and these were terrible acts for which you must take responsibility.
"You have come as near as can be to having three deaths on your hands."
Edgington
took a bus to Bexleyheath, bought a knife from Asda and attacked Miss Clark,
who was waiting for a bus.
When Miss
Clark grabbed the blade and kicked her away, Edgington ran to a butcher's shop
and grabbed a larger knife.She attacked Mrs Hodkin, a law firm accounts clerk, with such force that she almost decapitated her.
Edgington
was jailed for life with a minimum term of 37 years for murder and given a
concurrent sentence of life with a minimum term of 20 years for attempted
murder.


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