'My sister would still be here now if her killer had been kept in prison, the law needs to change'

The heartbroken sister of a woman murdered in her own home by her abusive partner said she believes the justice system failed her. Caroline Gore, was brutally murdered by David Liptrot in October last year.

Liptrot had a history of domestic violence convictions, including offences against Caroline, who was considered 'vulnerable'. In August and October of 2022, he was found guilty of battery against her. In the October, a two-year restraining order against her was handed to him. But this didn't stop him, or protect her.

In March 2023, Liptrot received a 30-week prison sentence for stalking and breaching the restraining order. On October 3 of that year, he was given a suspended prison sentence for violating the order again. He was allowed to roam freely. Just weeks later, on October 29, he would go on to take her life.

Caroline's sister Jo Gore believes he should never have been given a suspended sentence for breaching the order. She is convinced that if he had been jailed for his crime, Caroline would still be alive today.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: "He should never have been let out. He's not learning his lesson, if someone is breaching their sentence they shouldn't be let out. He's done I don't know how many times for assaulting her and jailed for it, she's got a restraining order on him and he's still trying to contact her.

"He's not learning his lesson while he's out. I can't get my head around it, I think it's diabolical the justice system."

Five days before Liptrot fatally stabbed Caroline in her flat at Douglas House in Wigan, he attempted to have the restraining order lifted by the court. His attempt was unsuccessful. Jo believes the law needs to change regarding those with a history of domestic violence receiving suspended sentences for breaching restraining orders.

She said: "They're just too lenient. He's got a history as long as my leg. He's got a really really bad reputation, he needs taking off the streets. You expect the courts to help you, and not release him.

"He's contacted her from prison, when he knows he's not supposed to. 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. She'd still be here now if they'd kept him in, like they should have done."

During a trial at Manchester Crown Court, jurors heard 'vulnerable' Caroline struggled with mental health issues. Prosecutor Alaric Bassano previously told the court about the pair's 'on-off, toxic relationship' characterised by 'excessive drinking on both parts'.

Jo, 54, from Pemberton, is convinced her sister had attempted to escape Liptrot's grip "several times". She said: "I think he was controlling her. She was frightened to death of him. That's why she's got a restraining order on him.

"He's been violent to her that many times in the past, he's bit her cheek, he's done awful of things to her, he slashed the tyres on her van. He's a horrible, horrible creature.

"He's preyed on her. He's never lived in a lovely flat like she had, nobody has ever looked after him like she did. He's been treated like a king by her and was probably frightened to death of losing what he'd got, but you don't treat someone you supposedly love like that. He is scum of the earth."

The court heard that on October 29 last year Liptrot met up with Caroline at the Wheatsheaf pub in Atherton around 3.50pm for drinks, where she quickly became distressed and began to cry. By 5pm, according to the prosecution, there was noticeable tension between them, with Caroline looking upset and attempting to distance herself from him.

The jury heard how Liptrot grew 'agitated' and forcefully knocked on the door of the women's toilet in search of her. While Caroline headed to the Dog and Partridge pub in Wigan, Liptrot made his way to her flat at Douglas House at about 8pm. Once inside her flat he stayed hidden until she returned home at 11.06pm. Just seventeen minutes later he left, having fatally stabbed her.

The following day, Liptrot told a punter during his session at the pub: "I’ve killed Caroline." Liptrot stayed at the pub, drinking beer and snorting cocaine, the court heard.

However, when Liptrot began singing along to Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, the fellow drinker became 'sickened' and alerted the pub landlord about Liptrot's chilling confession. As whispers spiralled around the pub, Liptrot casually quipped: "If there is ever big problems, you get rid of them, you get shut."

Police arrived at Caroline's flat at 8.23pm on October 30, responding to the concerns raised by the pub's staff. Caroline was discovered on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet, her keys dropped alongside her.

She suffered wounds to her neck, chest and stomach - causing serious internal injuries. Liptrot claimed she had been violent against him - but both jurors and the judge saw through his lies.

In court, it was revealed he had been found guilty of 85 previous offences - his first back in 1979, and has repeatedly found himself behind bars. Liptrot, from Shelley Close, Coppull, Lancashire, was jailed for 20 years by Judge Suzanne Goddard.

Judge Goddard said: "Experience shows women do not find it easy to break away from a man they love even though he has treated her violently and abusively. It was you [Liptrot] that should have stayed away from Caroline Gore - not speaking to her from prison and immediately rekindling the relationship when you left prison."

Reacting to the sentence, Jo expressed her dissatisfaction, saying: "I was disappointed really, I think I was expecting more". She continued with a sense of unresolved justice, "He should never have been let out."

Reflecting on the nature of the crime, she added, "With brutal way which was she taken, for me it should be a life for a life. With all the aggravating factors as well," and detailed the history of violence, "He'd stalked her, he'd been violent with her in the past, she had a restraining order on him. I think it was pre-meditated, he sat in wait for her for hours."

For Jo, Liptrot's sentence isn't long enough. She said: "Twenty years just doesn't seem enough. Thank god given his age he might never get out, but if he was younger he'd be released. Because it's my sister no time is ever going to be long enough. No time will justify what he has done, but I was really disappointed yesterday.

"Thank god he's locked up now but too little too late for me. Just got to take one day at a time now."

After the sentencing, Duncan Thorpe from GMP's Major Incident Team, the senior investigating officer, commented on the tragedy: "This is such a sad loss of life. No one should suffer at the hands of their partner and this is a very horrific and sad case where Caroline lost her life in a violent domestic attack."

"Our thoughts are with Caroline's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. know the sentence passed here today won't bring Caroline back to be with her family, but I do hope it will go some way to giving them all some form of closure in knowing what happened to Caroline and that Liptrot will be behind bars for a very long time."