Between 1975 and 1980, The Yorkshire Ripper used the North of England as a hunting ground. He spread fear not just in Yorkshire, but across the entire country. The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, killed thirteen women and attacked eight others. But before his capture, police were duped by a recording and three letters sent by a hoaxer. The voice on the tape claimed that he was the serial killer. This false evidence would derail the investigation and divert attention away from the real culprit. Police would later discover the recordings were made by John Humble. For over a quarter of a century, the answer to the question, Who is “Wearside Jack”, would remain unanswered, and John would lead detectives on a wild goose chase that may have cost three women their lives…
*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***
This episode was researched and written by Benjamin Fitton.
Narration, audio editing and production direction also by Benjamin Fitton. Script editing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton.
For early advert-free access and other extras, visit https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUs
MUSIC:
Words or Silence 2 by P C III
Words or Silence 1 by P C III
Labyrinth by Sergey Cheremisinov
Hot Soup On Cold Days by P C III
All music sourced from http://freemusicarchive.org and used under an Attribution License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
REFERENCES:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-12396506
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1513568/Police-tricked-by-loser-with-grim-obsession.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4825820.stm
https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/man-who-threw-detectives-trail-5059845
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/wearside-jack-i-deserve-to-go-to-jail-for-evil-ripper-hoax-6106028.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1513570/The-men-who-warned-that-it-was-all-a-fake.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wearside_Jack
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4743358.stm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355082/Sex-offender-Christopher-Smith-admits-Yorkshire-Ripper-Joan-Harrison-murder.html
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/i-did-it-because-i-was-bored-and-on-the-dole-1-2608755
https://web.archive.org/web/20060822111149/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/caseclosed/yorkshireripper1.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4825622.stm
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/yorkshire-ripper-hoaxer-wearside-jack-2053906
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/6079462.stm
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/oct/20/ukcrime
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-am-the-ripper-hoaxer-579914
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7154366.Ripper_hoax__accused_in_court/?ref=arc
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/21/ukcrime.uknews21
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/hoaxer-called-ripper-victim-s-mum-1-1106204
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/712026.Ripper_hoaxer_gets_eight_years/
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ripper-hoaxer-rot-prison-1528373
https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/joan-s-killer-unmasked-after-35-years-1-3057167
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8844572.Wife_Killer_s_link_to_murder_in_1970s/
https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/joan-s-killer-unmasked-after-35-years-1-3057167
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/22/ukcrime.davidward
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8088145.Ripper_hoaxer_gets_eight_years/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jail-appeal-by-ripper-hoax-man-633741
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