In a shocking case of sexual violence, a 26-year-old man has been jailed for life after forcing his way into a woman’s home and brutally raping her at knifepoint. Shane Liptrot, of Anson Place, was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison for the heinous crime, which occurred in the early hours of June 7th last year.
The court heard how Liptrot repeatedly knocked on the victim’s door before she opened it, only to be confronted by the man holding a Stanley knife. Despite the victim’s attempts to deter him by claiming her boyfriend was home, Liptrot barged his way into the property, claiming he was a drug dealer and would be “the first person he had sex with” after being released from prison.
Liptrot then went on to sexually assault the woman, ignoring her pleas for him to stop as he groped her and forced himself upon her. The judge described the attack as “deeply frightening and prolonged”, with the victim forced to make “calculations” about the pain due to Liptrot’s small penis size. The rapist then proceeded to assault the woman without a condom.
Liptrot, who had been released from a five-year jail term just two days prior to the attack, was arrested the following day. The court was told he had a history of targeting lone women at night, with a probation report concluding he posed a “high risk of serious harm to members of the public”.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, the woman described the devastating consequences of the attack, including the loss of her home and the decision to place her children in long-term foster care. She said she now lives in constant fear, struggles to sleep, and blames herself for opening the door.
Sentencing Liptrot as a dangerous offender, Judge Tom Gilbart said the man had shown a “lack of remorse and a lack of self-management”, and that he was unable to foresee a time when Liptrot would no longer pose a risk to the public. The judge also placed Liptrot on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
As Liptrot was led to the cells, a member of his own family shouted, “You horrible bastard!” – a sentiment that is no doubt shared by the wider community in the wake of this horrific crime.
