Ripper moved from ‘cushy’ Broadmoor room to tough jail
YORKSHIRE Ripper Peter Sutcliffe has been moved back to prison after more than 30 years of being treated as a psychiatric patient.
The 70-year-old serial killer is understood to have been transferred from Broadmoor hospital in Berkshire to tough Category A Frankland prison near Durham this week.
Sutcliffe will spend the rest of his life behind bars for 13 murders and seven attempted murders he committed in a wave of attacks, mostly on prostitutes.
He was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in 1984 and since then has cost taxpayers up to £250,000 each year to house him in secure psychiatric units.
But a health tribunal has ruled that Sutcliffe, who now calls himself Peter Coonan, no longer needs treatment for mental disorders.
The former lorry driver is said to be furious at losing the comforts of his room in Broadmoor, boasting a TV set with Freeview box and DVD player. A prison insider said before he was moved: “He doesn’t want to be in a Category A jail and says they are places without hope – full of violence and despair.
“He’s anxious about being attacked and has literally been sick with fear.”
Richard McCann, son of Ripper victim Emily McCann welcomed the move, adding: “It’s common sense that he should be returned to prison.”
Neil Jackson, son of another victim, Emily Jackson, added before the move took place: “I’m glad he is finally losing his cushy lifestyle but it’s not a moment too soon.
“He gets better fed in Broadmoor than I do and I work six days a week.
“Life has been far too easy for him up to now but he is in for a rude awakening.”
Denise Long, 58, whose mother Maureen survived his attack but suffered appalling injuries, said: “He should have been hanged.
“I don’t believe he was ever ill. He was pure evil. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Sutcliffe was jailed for life in 1981 for a 1970s murder spree across Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.
He cruised red light areas to select victims before attacking them with a hammer and knife.
At his Old Bailey trial, he claimed to have heard voices in his head telling him to go out and attack prostitutes.
Before being moved to Broadmoor, he spent three years at Parkhurst prison in the Isle of Wight.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Peter Coonan will remain locked up and will never be released for his evil crimes.
“Decisions over whether prisoners are to be sent to prison from secure hospitals are based on clinical assessments made by independent medical staff.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”