02/05/01 - BBC to broadcast
Ripper's voice
BBC News Online
The voice of the Yorkshire Ripper will be heard for the
first time since he was jailed for killing 13 women in
1981. The BBC's Everyman programme will broadcast a taped
prison conversation between Peter Sutcliffe and a graphologist.
The programme, entitled Dear Peter - Letters To The Yorkshire
Ripper, focuses on three women who have kept in constant
contact with Sutcliffe while he has been in Broadmoor
high security psychiatric hospital. Between 1976 and 1981,
Sutcliffe killed 13 women, mostly prostitutes, in the
north of England.
Many of their bodies were horribly mutilated. It is believed
to be the first time that his voice will be heard in public
since he was sentenced 20 years ago with a recommendation
that he serve at least 30 years in jail. Despite his notoriety,
Sutcliffe receives an average of 30 letters a week from
women, many of them admirers.
The extracts, which will be broadcast next Wednesday,
arise from a conversation Sutcliffe had with Diane Simpson,
a graphologist who interviewed him in prison. On the tape,
a softly spoken Sutcliffe says: "I won't let anybody
down who visits me. I will always give them a really nice
visit. I guess I'm a guy who needs friends."
The programme also features interviews with two women
who were admirers of Sutcliffe's. Artist Sandra Lester
even moved closer to Broadmoor to be near Sutcliffe, but
her hopes were dashed when he refused to allow her to
visit him in prison.
Olive Curry, from Tyneside, did visit Sutcliffe and believes
he used to visit the Seaman's Mission Cafe in Sheffield
where she worked before he was caught. She said he was
always accompanied by a man with a Wearside accent who
she believes could have been his accomplice in many of
the murders.
The programme's producer Christine Morgan said: "Most
people would express some surprise that anybody would
like to write to him. "There are elements of curiosity,
grim fascination and excitement for these women. "
A lot of woman believe they can heal him. "In all
cases women have been disillusioned and dejected and played
one off against another by him."
Everyman will be broadcast on Wednesday, 9 May
at 2245GMT on BBC One |
