08/03/05 - He's convinced
himself he is better now.
By Gary Jones
Mirror
YORKSHIRE Ripper Peter Sutcliffe is convinced he is now
"well enough" to be released from prison - and
that his crimes are "history".
The mass killer has begged in a letter for a chance
to leave top-security Broadmoor hospital to visit his
dying sister.
It follows the controversial decision earlier this
year to allow him out to see where his father's ashes
are scattered.
But a hospital source also revealed that Sutcliffe,
who killed 13 women, has deluded himself into believing
he should be freed permanently.
The source said: "He's convinced himself that
he's better now and his crimes are in the past. In fact,
he sees absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be released.
"He regards days out as proof that psychiatrists
at Broadmoor believe that he no longer poses any danger."
The Home Office sparked public outrage when it allowed
58-year-old Sutcliffe his first taste of freedom in
24 years in January.
The born-again Christian had been denied permission
to see his cancer-stricken dad John before he died.
He was also told he could not attend the funeral because
officials feared it would turn into a media circus.
But following a change of heart, he was able to walk
unshackled on the beach at Arnside in Cumbria to the
spot where his 81-year-old father's ashes were scattered.
Despite the outcry, a Home Office spokesman said it
was felt to be "the right and proper thing to do".
The Daily Mirror revealed how Sutcliffe wrote to friends
saying he had enjoyed the visit. He called it his "nice
day out".
It seems he is intent on repeating the experience.
He said in a new letter: "I've just learned my
sister is terminally ill with cancer, so we all have
her on our minds right now."
Sutcliffe has three sisters and two brothers. He sees
one, Maureen, and her husband quite often because they
have moved down to Surrey, closer to Broadmoor. Keen
to prove he has "human rights", he is pursuing
his claim to spend time with his terminally-ill sister
on compassionate grounds.
And the Mirror source said hospital red-tape no longer
frightens him.
"He's become far more confident dealing with the
authorities than he has in the past.
"He believes he is well enough to leave. That's
just how misguided he is. He does not accept that he
will never be a free man."
Sutcliffe's legal team are launching an appeal against
conviction in June based on a technical aspect of the
judge's rulings.
His chances of taking his case further are seen as
slim but he has convinced himself he will be successful.
As part of the process Sutcliffe - who in a six-year
reign of terror in the north of England murdered 13
women and tried to kill seven more - is subject to frequent
psychiatric assessments.
In a recent letter to a penpal he said he is "weary"
of discussing his crimes which he regards as "history".
Diabetic Sutcliffe said he has more pressing concerns
over his health to worry about right now. He described
his blood sugar levels as dangerously high. He is keen
to reduce his weight in Broadmoor's well-equipped gym
rather than take more medication.
Meanwhile, Sutcliffe has been dumped by his bride-to-be.
Pam Mills cancelled their wedding plans during a phone
call after her children pleaded with her not to go through
with the marriage.
The 54-year-old has sent Sutcliffe more than 3,000
letters during the past 15 years.
Sutcliffe is understood to feel "betrayed"
by her decision.
Her son Darren Platts, 34, said: "Every day we told
mum it would taint our family forever - she finally told
Sutcliffe she wanted no more to do with him." |
