RIPPER TAPE: MAN QUIZZED
Police are continuing to question a man in connection with a series of hoaxes which misled police during the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper in 1979.
The so-called "Wearside Jack" tape and letters diverted attention from the real killer, Peter Sutcliffe, who is now serving life for 13 murders.
It is thought the diversion allowed the murderer to kill three more women as police concentrated efforts elsewhere.
The 49-year-old hoax suspect was arrested yesterday in the Sunderland area on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Followers of the case believe the arrest followed a forensic breakthrough.
Sutcliffe, from Bradford, now 59, was jailed in 1981 after being convicted of murdering 13 women.
The murders, in the late 1970s and 1980, brought terror across the north of England.
One of the hoax letters was sent to the Daily Mirror.
The other two letters and the tape were sent to Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield, who led the murder inquiry.
In July 1979, Mr Oldfield released the chilling two-minute-long message, which featured a strong Wearside accent.
It began: "I'm Jack. I see you're still having no luck catching me.
"I reckon your boys are lettin' you down, George. They can't be much good, can they?"
Mr Oldfield said he was sure it was the voice of the Ripper, and a huge police effort was directed to the Sunderland area.
In July, it was discovered the tape and letters had been misplaced but they have since been recovered.
Police are continuing to question a man in connection with a series of hoaxes which misled police during the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper in 1979.
The so-called "Wearside Jack" tape and letters diverted attention from the real killer, Peter Sutcliffe, who is now serving life for 13 murders.
It is thought the diversion allowed the murderer to kill three more women as police concentrated efforts elsewhere.
The 49-year-old hoax suspect was arrested yesterday in the Sunderland area on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Followers of the case believe the arrest followed a forensic breakthrough.
Sutcliffe, from Bradford, now 59, was jailed in 1981 after being convicted of murdering 13 women.
The murders, in the late 1970s and 1980, brought terror across the north of England.
One of the hoax letters was sent to the Daily Mirror.
The other two letters and the tape were sent to Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield, who led the murder inquiry.
In July 1979, Mr Oldfield released the chilling two-minute-long message, which featured a strong Wearside accent.
It began: "I'm Jack. I see you're still having no luck catching me.
"I reckon your boys are lettin' you down, George. They can't be much good, can they?"
Mr Oldfield said he was sure it was the voice of the Ripper, and a huge police effort was directed to the Sunderland area.
In July, it was discovered the tape and letters had been misplaced but they have since been recovered.
