Heartless murderer Vincent Morgan who drowned his vulnerable girlfriend in a river has been sentenced to life.
The abusive alcoholic already had 47 convictions when he broke Lisa Welford’s bones with the force of a “car crash” and held her head under water as she struggled.
He had a history of domestic violence and was jailed for a minimum of 21 years today for her murder.
The court heard Morgan was a drug addict and alcoholic with 47 previous convictions, including ABH against an ex-partner and assaulting a police officer.
The couple had spent the day together in York on April 24, despite the court order being in place meaning Morgan was not to have contact with Lisa.
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They consumed alcohol before returning to Malton, North Yorkshire, and drank on the banks of the River Derwent.
(Image: North Yorkshire Police / SWNS)
A post-mortem found she suffered head injuries, a bleed on the brain, fractured ribs, a fractured collar bone and a severely fractured femur.
The court heard he offered no indication of how she suffered the leg break, which would have “required force similar to a car crash” to inflict.
A passerby recognised Morgan and told him to get help for Lisa after seeing her pain on the grass.
The passerby called for help from a friend, but the time he had arrived at the scene, Morgan was holding Lisa under water.
The male helped emergency services pull Lisa from the water and she was rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary, where she later died.
Prosecution counsel Carmel Pearson told today’s sentence hearing: “There had been three domestic violence prevention orders issued against the defendant, and he had broken them twice.
“Lisa Welford was vulnerable and she was clearly capable of being manipulated by the defendant.
“This is evident from the fact that he was living at her house at the time. She had left her home because she had asked him to leave but he refused, so she went to live with her mother.”
Ms Pearson said Lisa’s problems with alcohol gave her mobility issues and affected her mental health.
Lisa’s birth mother Joy Oxley – who was 17 when she gave birth and was forced to give her up for adoption – told the court: “Morgan has taken Lisa from my and my family. I have lost her twice now, this time forever.”
In a statement read to the court, Lisa’s adopted mum Rita Welford said: “She was my baby, I saw her nearly every day and saw the damage he did to her.
(Image: York Press / SWNS)
“I saw the black eyes and broken bones and the excuses Lisa made to cover for him.
“She loved him (Morgan), but at the same time she was terrified of what he’d do to her if she upset him.”
Morgan, who wore a black suit in the dock, interjected twice as the Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl KC sentenced him to life in prison, with a minimum of 21 years.
As the judge summarised the case, Morgan shouted: “You’re wrong” and later: “Is that your opinion or is it fact?”
The judge told him: “For some years, you were her partner. Someone who should have cared for her, looked after her.
“However, over the past two decades, you have shown yourself to be someone who is violent, especially when intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
“You are a man who is prepared to use violence against others, such as a police officer or your partners.
“When drunk, you are brutal and callous, unable to stop your desire for violence against your partners.
“This was the third domestic violence protection order against you. You ignored that order as you have ignored court orders in the past.
“It is no mitigation to say she had contacted you. That order was in place to protect Lisa Welford, who was unable to protect herself from you.”
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