Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe (74) dies
Serial killer was jailed for murdering 13 women over five years
about 3 hours ago Updated: about an hour ago
Peter Sutcliffe: was given 20 life terms for the murder of 13 women and the attempted murder of seven others in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester after being convicted at the Old Bailey in 1981. Photograph: PA
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to Email App
Peter Sutcliffe (74), the British serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper, has died in hospital, a Prison Service spokesman said.
Sutcliffe was serving 20 life terms at Frankland prison in Co Durham for murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more over five years in the late 1970s.
It is understood he died at University hospital of North Durham, three miles away from the prison.
Sky News reported that Sutcliffe was sent there after developing Covid-19, but he is understood to have refused treatment.
- Yorkshire ripper to be moved out of psychiatric hospital
- 'Ripper' challenge to whole life tariff fails
Sutcliffe’s murders – which left women mutilated across northern England – triggered widespread fear in northern cities, and the police were criticised for taking so long to track him down.
Sutcliffe was arrested in 1981 and pleaded guilty to 13 charges of murder and seven charges of attempted murder. He spent the rest of his days in prison.
Between 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe killed 13 women – including a 16-year-old shop assistant. His youngest victim, just 14 when Sutcliffe hit her five times in the head with a hammer in 1975, survived the attack.
Sutcliffe was sentenced to 20 life terms in prison and was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. – Agencies
‘Yorkshire Ripper’ death: Police apologise over language used for victims
Chief constable says language used for sex workers at time of murders was ‘wrong’
