A Dangerous offender jailed for 12 years after a violent stranger rape in Wigan last June
Shane Liptrot aged 26 from Ashton‑in‑Makerfield, was convicted on 12 December last year of knowingly trespassing on premises with intent to commit a sexual offence, rape, assault by penetration, and possession of a bladed article in a public space.
On Friday Liptrot repeatedly banged on the survivor’s door before producing a knife, making inappropriate comments and forcing his way inside despite her attempts to stop him.
The survivor was a stranger to Liptrot, who- after gaining entry to her home by force – subjected her to rape.
After this horrifying ordeal, he refused to leave until she gave him her phone number. Out of fear, she first provided a false number, but when he discovered this, she felt forced to give her real one. He then called her while still inside the property to make sure it was correct.
Bravely, the survivor told the court the impact this incident has had on her:
“Before Shane Liptrot committed this horrific crime against me, I had worked hard to rebuild my life after leaving a domestically violent relationship. I had focused on stabilising my mental health so I could care for my children, and I was less than a month away from my final hearing.
“When I informed my social worker about the rape, my assessment was immediately affected negatively, and the judge stated that what Shane did could cause future mental decline. Because I had chosen to surrender my tenancy, I no longer had a home where my children could return.
“I was forced to leave my home after the rape. I lost everything – my home, my possessions, and the life I had worked so hard to rebuild. Losing my home and possessions, on top of losing my children, broke me entirely. I became paranoid and anxious. I live in constant fear. I have not been able to sleep in a house or building alone since the attack.
“Over time, these feelings have not eased. Living like this has taken away my independence, my confidence, and my sense of normality. This crime took my children, my home, my safety, and my sense of self.”
