North Yorkshire Police deny failing murdered Malton woman as killer jailed for life

Police have insisted they did not "fail" a woman who was murdered by her violent ex-partner after he was released on bail despite a long history of abusing her.

Vincent Morgan was the subject of his third domestic violence protection order (DVPO) and was banned from contacting Lisa Welford when he drowned her on 24 April.

She was found in the River Derwent, in Malton, North Yorkshire, after police were called at 11.40pm. Morgan, who claimed she had jumped in, was on the riverbank.

Ms Welford, 49, had suffered head injuries, a bleed on the brain, fractured ribs, a fractured collar bone and a severely fractured femur.

She was taken to hospital but died the following morning.

On Wednesday Morgan, 47, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years after being convicted of murder following a trial.

North Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the case.

Deborah Jones, of Yorkshire-based Resolute Women's Support group, said DVPOs were "not worth the paper they're written on".

She added: "It absolutely infuriates me. These deaths can be prevented. Lisa's death could have easily been prevented.

"She has obviously been on the police's radar for quite a while for them to have implemented domestic violence protection orders. It shows that there has been some serious incidents before she tragically lost her life."

But Det Ch Insp Shaun Page, who led the investigation, defended the handling of the case. He said: "North Yorkshire Police didn't fail to protect [Ms Welford].

"We were aware of previous incidents involving Lisa and Vincent Morgan, but those are now subject of an IOPC investigation. But the investigation has led to a conviction for murder and we are pleased with the sentence today at court."

He added: "North Yorkshire Police takes domestic abuse exceptionally seriously. We have a specialist team that supports victims.

"As in this case, anybody at the end of a relationship, looking to leave a domestic abuse relationship, can be at exceptional risk of harm and I would ask them to think about reaching out to us, the police, or another agency."

He said police would try to prosecute perpetrators even without the support of victims.

Morgan's trial heard he was described by a previous partner as violent and controlling and had a long history of physical abuse towards Ms Welford.

He was under investigation for assaulting her in February at the time of the murder.

On the day of the attack Morgan spent the day with Ms Welford, despite being banned from contacting her.

They drank together, ending up on the bank of the River Derwent in the centre of Malton at around 11.30pm.

Police were alerted by witnesses who saw Ms Welford in the water.

She had suffered a cardiac arrest and had no detectable pulse when she was pulled out of the water.

Prosecutor Craig Hassall said Morgan contradicted himself after being arrested.

He said: "In the ambulance he said she had deliberately entered the water and took own life, and then said shortly after she had slipped on the bank and that's why she was in the water."

Sentencing Morgan, Recorder of Leeds Judge Guy Kearl told him: "Over the past two decades you have shown yourself to be a person who is violent, particularly when intoxicated with alcohol or drugs.

"When in drink you are brutal and callous, unable to control your desire for violence towards your partners."

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