Father weeps at inquest for Facebook Fugitive victim police failed to protect

Michael Brown, from Batley, near Leeds, described his daughter Clare Wood as “precious” and told the hearing that, although he did not want anyone “crucified”, he did want lessons to be learned.

The 36-year-old victim, who had a 10-year-old daughter, was strangled and set on fire by George Appleton, 40, after she broke off their relationship.

Police watchdogs concluded Ms Wood had been badly let down by “individual and systemic” failures by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

In the months before her murder she had repeatedly contacted GMP alleging Appleton had caused criminal damage, harassed her, threatened to kill her and tried to rape her.

Appleton, from Adelphi Court, Salford, had a history of violence towards women and was known to prowl online dating websites including Facebook, in search of partners.

Police launched a nationwide manhunt after Ms Wood’s body was found at her home on St Simon Street, Salford, on February 6 2009.

Appleton, born Frederick George Squires, was found six days later, hanged in a derelict pub.

Today Mr Brown, originally from Aberdeen, told Bolton Coroner’s Court he adopted Ms Wood and her brother, Adam, when she was 15 after her parents split up and he married her mother.

Ms Wood suffered from bipolar personality disorder, and despite being a clever girl was not interested in studying, the inquest heard.

Mr Brown, said his daughter met her husband Justin in 1996 and they had a daughter.

He said his son-in-law, who is also at the hearing, was an “ideal” partner for his daughter, but the relationship failed in 1999.

“I can never understand women,” he added. “They seem to want their children with steady Eddie but be courting Jack-the-Lad.”

In April 2008 she met Appleton via Facebook, a man her father took an “instant” dislike to.

“There was an aura about this lad I could not take to,” he said.

Ms Wood told her father Appleton had a criminal record - though only for motoring offences.

In fact Appleton had a history of violence against women. He had been jailed for three years in 2002 for harassing another woman and for six months a year earlier after breaching a restraining order on another ex-girlfriend.

“Had I known about his criminal record, I would have marched my daughter back to Batley myself,” Mr Brown said.

After spending Christmas 2008 with her father in Batley, she returned to her home in Salford but in early February he had problems contacting his daughter.

Growing concerned, Mr Brown asked his son-in-law to visit her home, where his daughter’s partly-burnt body was discovered.

Mr Brown, breaking down in tears, said: “The next thing I know, I’m leaving my place of work, HMP Leeds, I get a telephone call to say... my daughter’s body had been found.

“She was the most kind, gentle, generous person you could ever wish to meet.

“He has stolen the most precious thing of all, a mother to my granddaughter.”

Following the murder, it emerged there had been a catalogue of complaints about Appleton from the victim and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched its investigation into how the matter was handled by Greater Manchester Police.

She first called police in October 2008 after Appleton damaged her front door, threatened her with an iron and made threats to kill.

An alarm was installed at her home after she made an allegation of attempted rape against Appleton the month before her murder.

But the IPCC found police took 22 hours to respond to one call from the victim, there were also “excessive” delays in progressing criminal charges against Appleton who was repeatedly given bail despite breaking conditions in contacting the victim.

“I’m not here for anybody to be crucified, I’m here to help to ensure another father doesn’t sit here because the same mistakes are made,” Mr Brown told the hearing.

“My daughter did not get the protection that she needed when she needed it.”

The witness said his daughter’s death was still “an open wound”.

He added: “I would like to think when this is all over somebody in here has learned that there’s a consequence in what you do and what you don’t do and when you don’t do it, I’m the consequence, an aggrieved parent.”

The hearing continues.