CAROLINE GORE WAS KILLED BY HER FORMER PARTNER DAVID LIPTROT AS HE "LAY IN WAITING" INSIDE HER FLAT 08:35, 04 Nov 2024 Caroline Gore's abusive partner was allowed to walk free

from court, but weeks later he would murder her. David Liptrot had several convictions for domestic violence and was given a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting

Caroline. He would later be convicted twice within a year for breaching the order, but was spared jail for the second time, reports Manchester Evening News. On October 29 last year, Liptrot

killed Caroline, 43, at her flat in Wigan - less than four weeks after receiving the suspended sentence. The Manchester Evening News, is calling for a mandatory minimum jail term for

should empower and protect victims and survivors of domestic abuse. But too often, organisations who support them say, these orders are ineffective as authorities do not monitor whether they

are being adhered to. An offender can be imprisoned for up to five years when they are convicted for breaching a protective order. But the number of convictions for breaches of protective

orders have plummeted in recent years and nearly half of those who are convicted walk free. Last month, the government announced a review of sentencing in England and Wales which will be

'guided' by three principles, the first of which is that "sentences must punish offenders and protect the public". Too many perpetrators of domestic abuse who breach

protective orders are not being punished and their victims are not protected. Article continues below Days after her sister's killer was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for murder, Jo

Gore said the justice system had failed Caroline by letting him walk free weeks earlier. She said: "She'd still be here now if they'd kept him in, like they should have

done." Liptrot had a series of convictions for domestic violence, including recent offences against Caroline. In August and again in October of 2022, he was convicted of battery against

Caroline and was handed a two-year restraining order, banning him from contacting her. But this didn't stop him, or protect her. In March 2023, Liptrot was sentenced to 30 weeks in

prison for stalking and breaching the restraining order and on October 3 of that year, he was convicted for breaching the order again - but this time, he was spared jail. According to

prosecutors, Caroline called the police after Liptrot had been at her flat following his release from prison. She showed them an injury which she said had been caused by him biting her. This

was visible on body worn footage and later noted by her GP. Liptrot received a 10 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to breaching the order - but an

assault charge was dropped. Weeks later, and just five days before he went on to kill her, he tried to have the order rescinded by the court. On October 29, Liptrot joined Caroline at the

Wheatsheaf pub in Atherton at 3.50pm for some drinks, but she soon became upset and started crying. At around 5pm there was "acrimony" between them, with Caroline appearing upset

and trying to get away from him. In the murder trial, the court heard Liptrot, 55, became "agitated" and "banged forcefully" on the women's toilet door as he tried

to find her. While Caroline made her way to the Dog and Partridge pub in Wigan, Liptrot went to her flat at Douglas House at around 8pm. He remained "lying in wait" until Caroline

returned at 11.06pm. Seventeen minutes later, he left the property having fatally stabbed her. The next day, Liptrot was at the pub, drinking beer and snorting cocaine, when he told a

punter, "I’ve killed Caroline," the court heard, The murder trial was told that, as word spread in the pub, Liptrot said: "If there is ever big problems, you get rid of them,

you get shut." When police entered Caroline's flat at 8.23pm on October 30, they found her on the bathroom floor, slumped in front of the toilet with her keys on the floor next to

her. Caroline had suffered wounds to her neck, chest and stomach - causing serious internal injuries. In court, Caroline, 43, who worked as a cleaner, was described as

'vulnerable', having suffered with mental health difficulties. Liptrot claimed Caroline had been violent against him - but both jurors and the judge saw through his lies and he was

found guilty of murder. Speaking to the _M.E.N._ in August after Liptrot was sentenced, Caroline's sister Jo said the law needs to change when it comes to those with a history of

domestic abuse being given a suspended sentence for breaching restraining orders. She said: "They're just too lenient." Jo, 54, believes her sister had tried to break away

from Liptrot "several times". She added: "You think the law is on your side but it's obviously not. They've released him anyway to be free to go and kill her on a

suspended sentence. It's wrong." One charity said survivors often feel responsible for policing these orders themselves, with the onus of reporting breaches put on them. Domestic

Abuse Protection Orders, which are set to be trialled in Greater Manchester, could address some of these concerns. This new type of order, which is intended to become the 'go-to'

protective order for domestic abuse, means that offenders can be tagged. This form of electronic monitoring means that the police can be alerted when a potential breach of the order has

happened. However, there are concerns about the resources such monitoring will require at a time when many police forces are facing financial pressures. The new orders - which, unlike

restraining orders, allow courts to impose positive requirements - could also force perpetrators to take part in behaviour change programmes. Charities welcome this, arguing that more work

needs to be done with perpetrators of abuse. But all of the organisations the _M.E.N._ spoke to agree that punishing offenders who breach protective orders is important too. Not only does it

reassure victims and survivors that such an order is meaningful, it sends a message to perpetrators that breaching it is serious. Ikram Dahman, Interim Director of Fundraising, Policy &

Communications at domestic violence charity Refuge said: "We have been waiting with bated breath for the roll out of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) which were first announced

by the previous government under the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021. "Refuge welcomes the upcoming DAPO pilot, however we know all too well that police do not always use their powers

to effectively protect survivors and hold perpetrators to account. So often survivors tell us that the police don’t act on breaches of these orders, and they are often worth ‘little more

than the paper they are written on’." Charlotte Woodward, Head of Training and Development at the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) added: "For years the UK Government

has used rhetoric about “holding perpetrators of domestic abuse to account”. But this is not reflected in penalties for breaching protection orders put in place by criminal and civil courts,

eroding the trust of those at risk of further abuse." Across the country in recent years, the number of convictions for breaches of restraining orders has fallen from 9,369 in 2017 to

just 5,450 in 2023. In Greater Manchester, the number of sentences for breaches hit a 10-year low of 368 in 2021, rising to 474 in 2023. According to government data, around half of

convictions for breaches of restraining orders in England and Wales result in a prison sentence with an average term of just under six months. In Greater Manchester, the custody rate is

higher - 57.8 per cent in 2023. However, most custodial sentences for breaches of restraining orders in the city-region result in less than six months in prison. Last year, 137 of the 274

offenders convicted received prison sentences of less than three months, while just 58 got more than six months. There is strong evidence to suggest that short prison sentences are often

ineffective. Ministry of Justice data shows that 58.5 per cent of adults serving six months or less in prison reoffend upon release, while for those serving a year or more, the rate is 22.2

per cent. The former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, who the Labour government has appointed to lead a review of prison sentencing has previously suggested that jail terms of

less than six months should be scrapped. However, one of the three guiding principles for the review is that 'sentences must punish offenders and protect the public'. This must be

applied to protective orders. A campaign for a mandatory minimum jail term for breaches of protective orders has now been launched. Charlotte Woodward, Head of Training and Development at

the NCDV, said: "We support the campaign for a minimum jail term for breaching protective orders, which will send a clear message to those who breach orders, and give their victim

opportunity to seek the support of services to help manage the risk around the family, strengthen security in the home, and allow the journey of recovery to begin by breaking the traumatic

bonds and cycle of manipulation that exists in a coercively controlling relationship. "Protective orders can be empowering for victims of abuse, particularly when they have sought one

for themselves, such as a non-molestation order. They have taken action to protect themself; done something rather than having something done to them. "For many perpetrators a court

order is enough to pause or stop the abuse altogether, but a persistent few will breach. When this happens it’s vital that the law deals with them quickly and efficiently and prevents

dangerous perpetrators continuing a campaign of abuse and harassment." Ikram Dahman, Interim Director of Fundraising, Policy & Communications at domestic violence charity Refuge,

said: “Refuge is extremely concerned at how protective orders against perpetrators are failing survivors of domestic abuse. Protective orders should help to keep survivors safe but in

practice we know firsthand that women’s safety is being put at risk because of systemic issues with implementation, and breaches of these orders not being taken seriously by police. With

these chronic failings in mind, Refuge welcomes MEN’s campaign to highlight the urgent need for protective orders to be implemented much more effectively. "The murder of Caroline Gore

tragically illustrates the grave repercussions that occur when the criminal justice system fails to recognise the real risk abusers pose to survivors’ safety. For DAPOs to work and provide

survivors with effective protection from abusers, we need a sea change in internal policing culture and vast improvements in police forces’ responses to domestic abuse overall. "The

current system relies on women having to repeatedly report breaches and make their own safety plans, causing them to live in fear. We need to see the system focus on monitoring perpetrators

effectively and protecting women and their children instead of routinely failing them." “Tackling domestic abuse in any shape or form is a key priority for Wigan Council and we will

continue to work closely with Greater Manchester Police, and as part of our campaign to mark 16 days of action throughout November, we’ll be doing more to highlight this issue and encourage

people affected by domestic abuse to come forward for support.” Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt said: "Caroline’s tragic death highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for

women and families facing abuse. A minimum jail term would send a powerful message that breaches will not be tolerated, while also allowing essential time to safeguard victims and intervene

with offenders. Saskia Garner, Head of Policy and Campaigns at The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which supports victims of stalking and harassment, said: "It is vital that protective orders are

used to their full extent in every case to minimise the harm to victims. Police forces must ensure they sufficiently resource officers to implement and monitor protective orders in order to

reduce reoffending and charge breaches of the criminal offences they are." Wigan council's cabinet member for police, crime and civil contingencies, Councillor Dane Anderton, said:

“At Wigan Council, we support any campaign which aims to keep victims of any gender safe, as well as their children who are now recognised in law as a victim in their own right. Our Love Is

Not Abuse campaign, developed in close partnership with survivors of domestic abuse and the local Wigan Borough Domestic Abuse Service, saw a huge increase in calls to our dedicated support

helpline. Article continues below "I am proud to support a government dedicated to halving violence against women and girls in a decade, starting with vital actions: deploying domestic

abuse specialists in 999 control rooms, overhauling protection orders, ensuring police have necessary powers to monitor and address dangerous offenders, and educating young people in

schools on healthy relationships and consent. I am committed to honouring Caroline’s legacy by supporting this campaign at every level, locally and nationally, to help bring about meaningful

change." The Home Office and Ministry of Justice have been contacted for comment.