Yorkshire Ripper dead at 74: Peter Sutcliffe dies of coronavirus alone in hospital

The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, has died of coronavirus alone in hospital.
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The serial killer, who led a reign of terror in the north of England for five years, tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week and refused treatment.

The 74-year-old, who was arrested in Sheffield after killing 13 women and attempting to murder seven others, was serving a whole life sentence.

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He was arrested in January 1981 for driving a vehicle with false number plates and detectives soon established that he was responsible for a five-year killing spree between 1975 and 1980.

Yorkshire Ripper  -PAYorkshire Ripper  -PA
Yorkshire Ripper -PA

Sutcliffe died in hospital in Durham in the early hours of this morning.

He spent most of his sentence locked up in Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital before being transferred to HMP Frankland in County Durham in 2016.

The Sun quoted a source saying: “No tears were shed. His death was as pitiful as the vile life he had lived.”

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A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Frankland prisoner Peter Coonan (born Sutcliffe) died in hospital on 13 November. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.”

Sutcliffe, 74, had tested positive for Covid-19 and was suffering from underlying health conditions.

There was no confirmation of the cause of death which will be investigated by the coroner.

Sutcliffe had reportedly suffered from a range of conditions before his death including heart trouble, diabetes and obesity.