Shane Liptrot was jailed for life
(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
A man who forced his way into a woman’s home and raped her at knifepoint has been jailed for life. Shane Liptrot, 26, repeatedly banged on the door alerting the young woman in the early hours of June 7 last year.
As she opened the door, he held a Stanley knife in his hand before questioning her. She lied and said her boyfriend was at home before he pushed his way into her home.
Liptrot claimed he was a drug dealer and ‘rich’, before stating she would be the ‘first person he had sex with’ after being released from prison, Manchester Crown Court heard.
He then forced himself on her and sexually attacked her. As she tried to create distance, she told him: “Please, you’re really hurting me, can you leave my house”. Liptrot then exposed himself and she urged upon him that she did not want to have sex.
He continued to grope her before taking hold of her hair and forcing himself upon her. When she tried to distract him by asking about his tattoo he said: “Shut up, b***h.”
Shane Liptrot(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
The court was told that the woman had to make ‘calculations’ about the pain of the rape, due to Liptrot’s penis being ‘so small’. “How appalling that she had to make a calculation like this,” said a judge.
Liptrot then raped her without wearing a condom, and told her to ‘shut the f*** up’ before ejaculating inside her.
The court heard that Liptrot had been released from a five year jail term on June 5, having been convicted of four offences of robbery committed against lone woman at night. He was arrested the following day.
Siôn ap Mihangel, prosecuting, added that Liptrot has targeted a lone woman and went onto blame the victim and suggested she was sexually uninhibited.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said she had previously had to rebuild her life after surviving a violent relationship. She suffered with her mental health and struggled to care for her children, and as a result, she chose to surrender her tenancy as she didn’t want to be at the home where her children couldn’t return to.
This lead to the ‘devastating decision’ to place her children in long term foster care. She said: “I lost my children because I was a victim of crime. I was left thinking ‘how could this happen to me when I was so close to getting my life back?”
“I cry myself to sleep every night. I lost everything, my home, my possessions, everything I worked so hard for. I live in constant fear, I’m not able to sleep in a house alone and I wake from nightmares reliving that night. It haunts me all the time.”
Manchester Crown Court(Image: MEN Media)
She said that she blamed herself for opening the door and was frightened of being confronted for speaking out. “I’m terrified to walk alone, I am constantly fearing what will be waiting for me when I see a man. I feel overwhelmed with fear and my mind races. It’s exhausting, I feel isolated and trapped and unable to trust the world around me.”
Desmond Lennon, for Liptrot, said his client maintains his innocence and is unable to accept the verdicts of the jury.
He said he had significant difficulties when he as younger and spent time in care before turning to crime. He was also said to suffer from a personality disorder and depression.
He was also said to pose a ‘high risk of serious harm to members of the public’, a probation report concluded. “He wants to spend time with his mother and hopes to use his time in custody constructively,” Mr Lennon added.
Sentencing him as a dangerous offender, Judge Tom Gilbart said: “This was a deeply frightening and prolonged rape. There is a pattern of attacks on lone women at night. You have shown a lack of remorse and a lack of self management.”
He also said that the presentence report said Liptrot became ‘sexually aroused’ when posing a threat, and so showed a significant risk of causing serious harm.
Judge Gilbart added: “I am unable to foresee a time when you will not pose a risk to members of the public.”
Liptrot, of Anson Place, was jailed for life to serve a minimum term of 12 years. He must serve the jail term before being considered safe to be released by the Parole Board. He was also placed onto the Sex Offenders Register for life. As he was led to the cells below, a member of Liptrot’s family shouted: “You horrible b******!”
After the hearing, Detective Constable Harris, who investigated the case, said: “I want to commend the survivor for the remarkable courage she has shown in coming forward and supporting this investigation. Reporting an offence of this nature is incredibly difficult, and it is through her bravery that a very dangerous man is now behind bars.
“This was a terrifying stranger attack inside her own home, and the trauma she has endured is unimaginable. The home should be a safe haven. Yet despite this, she has shown strength and determination throughout every stage of the investigation and court process.
“We want to be absolutely clear: we take all reports of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously, and we will relentlessly pursue perpetrators.
“I hope this outcome provides the survivor with some measure of justice as she continues to rebuild her life. Her courage has protected other women from harm, and we will continue to stand with her — and every survivor — in the fight to bring offenders like Liptrot to justice.”