The serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper has died.
Peter Sutcliffe, one of the UK's most notorious prisoners, was serving a whole-life term for murdering 13 women across Yorkshire and the North West between 1975 and 1980.
He was jailed in 1981 and spent several years at Broadmoor Hospital where he was treated for paranoid schizophrenia, before he was transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham in 2016.
A Prison Service spokesman confirmed on Friday that Sutcliffe had died at University Hospital of North Durham, three miles from where he was an inmate.
He had contracted COVID-19 but is understood to have refused treatment for the virus.
The 74-year-old - who was obese and had a number of health problems, including diabetes and heart issues - had been treated for a suspected heart attack two weeks ago before returning to prison.
He was then readmitted to hospital after testing positive for Coronavirus
Once the most feared man in the country, Sutcliffe's killing spree instilled terror in the north of England as police failed to pick up the clues in their pursuit of the notorious murderer.
As the story of his crimes grew, he became known as the Yorkshire Ripper, a reference to the Victorian killer Jack the Ripper who also mutilated his victims.
In all, 13 women were killed and seven more were viciously attacked, although police suspect the number of victims is higher.
A woman who survived an attack by Sutcliffe said she still suffers from the effects of his attack in Leeds, 44 years on.
Marcella Claxton told Sky News: "I have to live with my injuries, 54 stitches in my head, back and front, plus I lost a baby, I was four months pregnant.
"I still get headaches, dizzy spells and black outs."
news.sky.com
Good riddance to him, Hope that he suffered. Maybe Friday 13th isn't so unlucky after all.
Peter Sutcliffe, one of the UK's most notorious prisoners, was serving a whole-life term for murdering 13 women across Yorkshire and the North West between 1975 and 1980.
He was jailed in 1981 and spent several years at Broadmoor Hospital where he was treated for paranoid schizophrenia, before he was transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham in 2016.
A Prison Service spokesman confirmed on Friday that Sutcliffe had died at University Hospital of North Durham, three miles from where he was an inmate.
He had contracted COVID-19 but is understood to have refused treatment for the virus.
The 74-year-old - who was obese and had a number of health problems, including diabetes and heart issues - had been treated for a suspected heart attack two weeks ago before returning to prison.
He was then readmitted to hospital after testing positive for Coronavirus
Once the most feared man in the country, Sutcliffe's killing spree instilled terror in the north of England as police failed to pick up the clues in their pursuit of the notorious murderer.
As the story of his crimes grew, he became known as the Yorkshire Ripper, a reference to the Victorian killer Jack the Ripper who also mutilated his victims.
In all, 13 women were killed and seven more were viciously attacked, although police suspect the number of victims is higher.
A woman who survived an attack by Sutcliffe said she still suffers from the effects of his attack in Leeds, 44 years on.
Marcella Claxton told Sky News: "I have to live with my injuries, 54 stitches in my head, back and front, plus I lost a baby, I was four months pregnant.
"I still get headaches, dizzy spells and black outs."
Yorkshire Ripper serial killer Peter Sutcliffe dies
Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered at least 13 women, is understood to have refused treatment after contracting coronavirus in prison.
Good riddance to him, Hope that he suffered. Maybe Friday 13th isn't so unlucky after all.
