Abusive partner was spared jail - weeks later he stabbed his ex to death

Hundreds have signed a petition calling for a mandatory prison sentence for breaches of protective orders after Caroline Gore, 43, was murdered by her partner who was spared jail

An abusive man who was spared jail for breaching a restraining order for a second time stabbed his ex-partner to death just weeks later - prompting calls for a law change.

David Liptrot, 56, was found guilty of murdering Caroline Gore, 43, after he knifed her seven times in her flat at Douglas House, Wigan, in December 2023. Manchester Crown Court heard that he waited inside the property for three hours and left the flat 15 minutes after carrying out the horrific attack.

The following day, he confessed the murder to a pub punter, saying: "I've killed Caroline." At the start of the murder trial, prosecutor Alaric Bassano said the pair had an "on-off, toxic relationship" that involved "excessive drinking" and "physical violence".

Liptrot had a string of convictions for domestic violence, including recent offences against "vulnerable" Caroline. In August and again in October of 2022, he was convicted of battery against the cleaner and was slapped with a two-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting her.

However, 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 pleading 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 Weeks later, and just five days before he went on to kill her, he tried to have the order rescinded by the court.

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'd still be here now if they'd kept him in, like they should have done," she told Manchester Evening News.

During the trial, the court heard how Liptrot had joined Caroline at the Wheatsheaf pub in Atherton on the afternoon of October 29 for 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.

Liptrot apparently became 'agitated' and 'banged forcefully' on the door of the women's toilets in the pub, trying 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 there, 'lying in wait', until Caroline returned at 11.06pm. 17 minutes later, he left the property having fatally stabbed her.

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.

Now, the Mirror affiliate is calling for a mandatory prison sentence for breaches of protective orders. Protective orders, like the one handed to Liptrot, 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. When a perpetrator is convicted for breaching a protective order, offenders can be imprisoned for up to five years. 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.

The government has now responded to the campaign, which has gathered hundreds of signatures following a petition which was launched on the weekend. A government spokesperson said: "What happened to Caroline is just horrific. This government has a mission to halve violence against women and girls in 10 years. We are going further to protect victims of domestic abuse, which is why we are launching a pilot for new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders later this month in police forces and courts including in Greater Manchester. These new, strengthened orders will not have a minimum or maximum duration, allowing victims to obtain the protection they require for as long as needed, and will give the police and courts the powers to impose tougher restrictions on perpetrators."

To sign the petition visit here.