A mother-of-four was stabbed to death by her possessive ex-lover inside her home while she was on the phone to her sister.
Linda Parker, 52, had picked up the receiver in her bedroom when it began ringing – only to come face-to-face with Glen Gibbons, who had been secretly lying in wait inside the property.
As her shocked sibling Kathleen listened, Linda said in a trembling voice: ‘He’s broken in’ before being overheard adding: ‘Get out Glen, get out. I’ll talk to you if you put the knife down.’
Linda Parker, 52, (left) picked up the receiver in her bedroom when it began ringing – only to come face-to-face with Glen Gibbons, who had been secretly lying in wait inside the property
Kathleen hung up and dialled 999 but grandmother Linda was already dead by the time she and officers reached her home in Heywood, near Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Linda – who had gone home to pick up her dog Toby – was stabbed 12 times to the head neck and chest and was thought to be holding the receiver when she was attacked.
It emerged Gibbons, 51, had been keeping the victim’s home under surveillance after the couple split a week earlier and was so obsessed with her, he was described as being ‘like her shadow.’
He been stalking her earlier that day at a job centre – leaving her in such fear staff booked her a cab home via a back door.
He even texted Linda’s son after the murder to brag about the killing.
At Manchester Crown Court, Gibbons, from Rochdale, showed no emotion as he admitted murder and was jailed for life.
The court heard he and Linda had been in a two year relationship but her family said it led to a ‘change’ in the victim.
Andrew O’Byrne QC prosecuting said: ‘He was paranoid and made her FaceTime him so he would know where she was.
‘She didn’t say much on the phone and began to babysit her grandchildren less frequently.
Linda (pic) – who had gone home to pick up her dog Toby – was stabbed 12 times to the head neck and chest and was thought to be holding the receiver when she was attacked
‘Linda’s sister Irene described him as being like a ‘shadow’ to her sister and telephone conversations were put on loud speaker.
‘Other members of family said the defendant was extremely possessive of Linda if she was not in his company.
‘He wanted to know where she was, where she was going and who with. There were violent rows, usually in drink that would flare up.’
In Spring 2017 Gibbons moved in with Linda but was later seen behaving violently towards her. Police were called but she refused to make a statement.
Later Linda rang her eldest daughter Vanessa in ‘hysterics’ saying Gibbons had dragged her around the room, punched her and pulled her hair – whilst he was overheard in the background threatening to hang himself.
Subsequently Vanessa got a further call from Linda saying Gibbons had dragged her around the room and punched her.
While on the phone she heard Linda tell Gibbons she was scared of him and he started crying.
The relationship eventually broke up on September 16 when he grabbed Linda by the throat in yet a row in a pub this time witnessed by her family.
Gibbons moved out of Linda’s home and she changed the locks but he rang her son Connor warning he was going to ‘watch his mother.’
When he told it was stalking, he replied: ‘I know that – but I am going to do it anyway. I will scar her so that no one else would want her.’
Mr O’Byrne said: ‘On September 25 she had an appointment at the Job Centre but confided in family members that she had reservations about going because he knew of the course and she was concerned he might try and meet her – and that’s exactly what he did.
‘She got the bus into Rochdale and he was waiting for her. He tried talking to her, walking in front of her and stopping her going past.
‘A young woman walked with her to ensure she got to her meeting with out any further difficulty.
While on the phone she heard Linda tell Gibbons she was scared of him and he started crying. The pair are pictured together in an undated photo
‘When she got to the meeting place she was frightened and the staff arranged for her to get a taxi from the back of the building so that she would not be seen by the defendant if he was still in the area.
‘The taxi took her to her mother’s house and she was trembling and visibly upset.
‘She was anxious to go back home because her dog, Toby, was there but she got back unaware the defendant was already waiting for her.
‘Linda’s other sister Kathleen had decided to phone only for Linda Parker to informed her that the defendant was in the house.
‘She told her sister he had broken in and when she delivered that message her voice was trembling. She heard her say he should put the knife down and they could talk.
‘Kathleen put the phone down and contacted the police. She was on the phone to them for some time and then ran to her sister’s house. But she was too late.’
Linda was found dead on her bed where she had been on the phone.
Gibbons got in through an unlocked kitchen window. He used a knife and chisel bought from a store earlier that day.
He rang his own family saying he had stabbed Linda before handing himself in saying later: ‘I’m devastated it all happened’.
In a statement Vanessa said: ‘Mum made sacrifices in her own life in order to bring us up. She always put others before herself.
‘She was kind and caring and gentlest person you could hope to meet, a big softie who loved her family so much.
‘We’re devastated that she has been taken from us before her time, in such an unspeakable way. She still had her whole life ahead of her.
‘She still had dreams and aspirations that she wanted to fulfil. It’s hard to comprehend how someone can just come along and take away her life so brutally and viciously.
‘We all constantly relive the day she died. We can’t help but wonder what her final moments were like and whether she suffered.
‘It is difficult to accept she must have been so scared yet none of us was there to help her.
‘Connor is struggling with coming to terms with the fact that Glen texted him after killing our mother telling him’ what he had done.
‘Connor was on his way to our mum’s house and was unable to do anything to help our mum at that moment.
‘Our mum was scared of the man who did this to her and he knew it. He knew she did not want to be in a relationship with him anymore yet he hounded her and would not leave her alone.
‘He kept contacting family members and even resorted to watching her house when she ended their relationship.
‘On the morning of our mother’s death she phoned all of her children to say how scared and worried she was that Glen may follow her.
‘She knew from what Glen had told Connor that Glen may be watching her house. We all feel guilty that we were not there to save our mum.
‘She ended the relationship as she was unhappy and she knew Glen’s abuse was gradually getting worse. She was happy to start getting her life back again.’
In mitigation defence counsel Andrew Jefferies said: ‘They fought but tended to make up – although there was no excuse for this violence. He is, from a close family himself.’
But ordering him to serve a minimum of 22 years the judge Mr Justice Simon Bryan said: ‘Your relationship had been volatile, and you were extremely possessive and controlling of her.
‘You constantly wanted to know where she was, where she was going and who she was with and. On a number of occasions you were violent to her and she was scared of you.
‘To the extent that you were in love with Linda it was an unhealthy and controlling love. It is clear you were not willing to let Linda go.’
‘The facts of this case illustrate the tragedy of the loss of a life, set against a sadly all too familiar backdrop of a history of domestic violence, where one partner finally manages to end the relationship, only for their ex-partner to be unwilling, or unable, to accept that the relationship is at an end leading to a confrontation and fatal injuries to the victim, for that is what Linda is, a victim of your criminal conduct.’