Sutcliffe in Sunderland
It has been confirmed that the notorious Peter Sutcliffe Later dubbed The Yorkshire Ripper, has been released and is living in Sunderland.
Peter Sutcliffe who was convicted in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attacking several others. Was serving life imprisonment in Broadmoor Hospital. However he has been granted freedom by the Parole Board, Home Secretary David Blunkett has confirmed.
The decision to have him released after serving only 29 of the original minimum 30 years in the high security hospital Broadmoor was confirmed by Home Secretary David Blunkett in a written House of Commons reply this morning.
The Parole Board decided he should be released on life licences.
The board held hearings earlier this week for Peter sucliffe , who was 35 when he committed his first murder of Wilma McCann, carrying until 1981 after killing 13 women and dumping their bodies in various locations throughout west Yorkshire.
Aged 63 and deemed no longer a threat to the public, he has been set free and given secret new identities.
The decision provoked anger among campaigners opposed to his release and came as a fresh blow to the victims families who reacted with horror to the news that he could soon be back on the streets.
Frank Jordan, 52, whose mother Jean was the sixth woman to be murdered by the Ripper, in 1977, said: 'I didn't know this was at all possible. It shouldn't be allowed, for Sutcliffe to fight for his freedom. It's appalling. He took lives. Life means life and he should stay where he is.'
His spokesman Dean Smith, director of the Victims of Crime, confirmed he had been informed of Sutcliffe’s release and said he was "distraught".
Mr Blunkett told the public that Sutcliffe would be "under strict regulations and could be immediately recall if there are any concerns about the safety of the public".
He said: "The Parole Board informed me yesterday of their decision, to release Peter Sutcliffe who was convicted in January 1981 of the murder of thirteen vulnerable women and attacking several more."
The killer assaulted and abducted the women from the west Yorkshire area, before sexually assaulting and torturing many of his victims to death and mutilating their bodies.
Mr Smith said: "he (Frank) has had it confirmed by Home Office officials that Sutcliffe has been released and is living in Sunderland. However he is still waiting for the full details. "Frank and many other of the victims’ family members are absolutely devastated and stunned that this could even be a possibility. There has to be a big enough punishment for such a horrific and unimaginable killing spree that Sutcliffe committed, but all we can see is Sutcliffe being rewarded.
Mr Blunkett said he would not comment on the release arrangements for the killer, in an attempt to protect his identities and although he did release his whereabouts.
"The murder of those young women was a terrible event for their families and the whole nation," he said in his statement.
"But the safety of the public would not be served by releasing the identity of the perpetrators now that it has been decided that he is no longer a threat to society, although his location has been released with the vast cosmetic surgery he has under gone he will no longer be recognisable.
"The vast changes that he is under going were granted because there was a real and strong possibility that their his life would be at risk if his identity became known."
Mr Blunkett said the regulations of his release were that he could not contact, or attempt to contact any member of the victims families.
Also he is not be allowed to enter the Yorkshire area without imitate need to do so and written consent of his probation officer.
"Sutcliffe is being released back to his family, enjoying a life of luxury that a few years ago would have seemed impossible that he could have achieved.
However many argue "If he had been given love and support as a child, would these murders have been committed? And yet he is being released back into their company"
Mr Blunkett said: "I offer my deepest sympathy to the all the families and victims. The circumstances of the killings were appalling and had a deep impact on each and every member of the UK, and even being reported in Australia.
"We as individuals and as a nation will never forget these horrific crimes and I am aware of how distressing hearing this news can be for the people of Sunderland, but he is no longer a threat.
The Home Secretary came to the decisions about the release of the convicted murder when he was aged 33, almost serving the full minimum sentence. However the locals of Sunderland are up in arms and don’t want this murderer on their doorstep.
An offender can then be released when and how the Parole Board decides as long as there is not "unacceptable risk to the public". However, there is always a risk they could offend.
Mr Blunkett said the parole board consisted of a lawyers, police officers (who dealt with the investigation in 1981) psychiatrist and unknown members of the public.
"I know that the case would have been given very careful attention, securitisation into the details and the reasoning behind the release of Sutcliffe," said Mr Blunkett.
"It is not appropriate for me to comment on the identity as too much has already been told to the general public and there is a fear for the safety of Mr. Sutcliffe if too much information is given out. There is also a High Court ruling that has been put forward to prevent the secret identity being released.
Although the parole board has not released a statement, the home secretary said that they did not which to add anything to their report.
