Yorkshire Ripper hoax: Man held by police
A 49-year-old man was arrested today by police investigating the so-called “Wearside Jack” hoax letters and tapes sent to the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry team.
West Yorkshire Police said the man was arrested in the Sunderland area on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The hoax letters and tapes featuring a man with a strong Wearside accent purporting to have carried out the Ripper murders and taunting officers is widely believed to have diverted resources from the investigation which eventually led to the capture and conviction of Peter Sutcliffe.
