Police chiefs are slammed today for 'shocking' and 'inexcusable' failures after a mum who repeatedly begged them for help was murdered by her former boyfriend.

A damning report by a national watchdog lists a catalogue of blunders by Greater Manchester Police leading up to the death of Clare Wood at the hands of her abusive lover, George Appleton.

And GMP received further criticism after rankings out today branded it one of the worst forces in the country.

Chief Constable Peter Fahy insists lessons have been learned and improvements made to address the barrage of criticism levelled at his force.

Today’s report details how GMP failed to protect Clare from Appleton after they met on an internet dating site. She didn't know that he had been jailed three times for harassing and assaulting two previous partners.

They were together for 18 months, but when she ended the relationship he began an horrific campaign of terror. Clare's strangled and burned body was found at her home in Salford last year.

In the four months before her death, Clare, 36 and the mother of a 10-year-old daughter, contacted police for help FOUR times. She told them how she feared Appleton, 40, would strike again – or would kill her.

Today's report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission reveals:

  • Police took more than 24 hours to respond after Clare frantically dialled 999 when Appleton hammered on her front door.
  • They tried to respond 26 times but were delayed because there were not enough officers on patrol. The response was described as 'unsatisfactory'.
  • A police officer took four months to submit a file to prosecutors after Clare went to Pendleton police station and said that Appleton had threatened to smash her windows, burn her house down and have her stabbed. The delay was described as 'inexcusable'.
  • Appleton was given a fixed penalty notice for the threats after the same officer failed to tell prosecutors that Clare had made a further allegation of sexual assault and had breached his bail conditions by contacting her.
  • Appleton was bailed after the allegation of sexually assault despite his history of domestic violence.
  • GMP communications staff revealed to Appleton that Clare had made a complaint about him.
  • Police failed to correctly fill in 13-point risk assessment sheets for domestic violence victims.
  • Prosecutors advised the officer to give Appleton a harassment order but he did not because Appleton was on bail for the sex assault. Three days later he killed Clare.

Appleton - branded the 'Facebook Fugitive' - disappeared after the murder. He had previously prowled networking sites looking for women. He was found hanged in a derelict pub just days after Clare's body was discovered at her home in St Simon Street, Blackfriars, in February last year.

In the report, Naseem Malik, from the commission, said: “Her repeated requests for help coupled with Appleton's history should have put Clare into a higher risk category.

“For three months this risk was not recognised despite Appleton's clear threats against Clare in October 2008.”

The report concludes that the police officer who recorded Clare's complaints – known as officer A - underestimated the threat posed by Appleton. It says the officer did not consider there was a genuine threat to life and perceived Appleton as a 'quiet mild man' and thought his threats were 'throwaway comments'.

The report says: “For officer 'A' to perceive these threats as 'throwaway comments' is very concerning. It shows a clear lack of understanding of the situation and a failure to recognise a pattern of behaviour.”

The commission has recommended the officer 'receive management action'. It is understood he has been given words of advice about his conduct.

The report adds that although Clare was not given the support she should have been 'it cannot be said that the failures by GMP or individual officers led to her death.'

The report draws parallels with the case of Katie Boardman – another young mother who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Katie was stabbed 82 times by Brian Taylor in a drug and booze fuelled attack at her home in Farnworth, Bolton, in October 2008.

In that case the commission criticised police in a report for their 'total failure' to link 11 pleas for help for Katie. Five were made in the week before she died.

In her report on Clare, Ms Malik said: “It is clear to me during the period of time covering the deaths of Clare Wood and Katie Boardman that Greater Manchester Police's response to domestic violence related incidents was not as good as it should have been.

“There were flaws in their intelligence systems and individual failings by officers who demonstrated in some cases a shocking lack of understanding about the nature of domestic violence.”

As well as the report, a ‘domestic homicide’ review is being held by agencies which include the police, the council and the crown prosecution service.