How many others were killed by ‘second Ripper?’

Christopher Smith remained at large over the murder of Joan Harrison, 26, in Preston, until the day he died of cancer aged 60 in 2008, but six days beforehand a swab of his DNA was taken when he was breathalysed for drink-driving.

It was his first appearance on the national DNA database after staying out of trouble for 18 years, but he was eventually connected to evidence collected at the scene of the mother-of-two’s death, which at one stage was linked to Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

Lancashire Constabulary said grandfather Smith, of Leeds, would have been charged with murder if he was still alive and they would have expected a conviction.

A three-page note from Smith - penned the day before he died - in which he seemingly confessed was found at his home and stated, “I can’t go on with the guilt.”

Now his details are being circulated to several forces throughout the UK where it is known Smith had lived.

Born Alexander Smyth in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is thought to have used at least 14 aliases including his final identity as he pursued his criminal career.

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Gardner, head of crime for Lancashire Constabulary, said Smith mainly committed petty thefts from his late teens up until 1975 when Mrs Harrison was found battered and raped in a disused lock-up garage.

His offending then became more violent and sexual, and in 1981 he was jailed for two years and nine months for the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl in the Manchester area.

Two years later he received a suspended sentence for the manslaughter of his first wife, Violet, after he was cleared of murder, arguing she fell on to a knife he held during a row.

His second wife has since told detectives that he threw her out of a window when she was seven months pregnant.

Smith moved to Newport, South Wales, at the age of 15, before later living in Bolton, Salford and Stoke-on-Trent. The father-of-six, who was married three times, spent his latter years at various addresses in Leeds to be near his family when he fell ill.

Mr Gardner said: “We are not linking Smith with any outstanding cases in Lancashire but we are contacting historic serious crime cold case teams in the areas where he lived to investigate whether he committed more offences.”

Mrs Harrison’s body was found in the garage in Berwick Road, Avenham, in November 1975. A bite mark was found on her breast and several items of jewellery were missing including two gold wedding rings belonging to the twice-married victim.

Two nights earlier she had left her home in Deepdale to head for a drink in Preston centre.

It is understood Smith may have come across her by chance after being released from a prison sentence he had served in the area.

Mr Gardner said: “A friend of his told us he had been serving a sentence at HMP Preston around that time and went on to live in a hostel in Preston. We know that Joan used to frequent that hostel.”

Mrs Harrison was said to have lived a chaotic lifestyle and had problems with alcohol and drugs.

The connection with Sutcliffe came to light in 1978 - when the serial killer was still at large - as West Yorkshire Police received the first of three letters purporting to be from the Ripper.

Signed “Jack the Ripper”, it began: “I am sorry I cannot give my name for obvious reasons ... I am the Ripper” and later added: “Up to number 8 now you say 7 but remember Preston 75, get about a bit you know.”

Following Sutcliffe’s capture and confession, those messages and an audio tape were proved to be from hoaxer John Humble, known as Wearside Jack.

The theft of Mrs Harrison’s personal belongings did not fit the Yorkshire Ripper’s profile but detectives noted that saliva traces from Humble’s letters was of a rare blood group which matched that of samples taken from the Preston murder scene.

Sutcliffe was formally interviewed about Mrs Harrison’s murder but denied any knowledge.

In 1981 Sutcliffe, from Bradford, was jailed for life for murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more, while Humble, from Sunderland, was jailed for eight years in 2006 for perverting the course of justice.

Speaking of Humble’s hoax, Mr Gardner said: “Anybody who goes out of their way to deliberately mislead a murder investigation is at best unhelpful and at worst criminal.

Smith’s confession note, dated January 29, 2008, read: “Two how (sic) ever it concerns I would like to put the record straight. I can’t go on with the guilt. I have lived with it for over 20 years.

“I am truly sorry for all the pain I have caused to anyone. Please believe me when I say I am sorry.

“I love my grand kids and my daughter. I cannot go back to prison anymore. Please God help my family who I worship. I have been out of trouble for over twenty years so please God help me.

“I am so sorry. God forgive me. I love you all forever.”

Mr Gardner said: “My view of the note is that it comes tantalisingly close to a full admission. He is clearly remorseful for something he has done in his past, something he had not been to prison for.

“I don’t believe it is referring to his first wife’s death or any of his other convictions.

“His family have told us he was a paranoid man who was fearful of a knock on the door from the police.”

He said the closing of the murder case was tribute to “the power of the national DNA database” but acknowledged it would not have been solved under current DNA gathering regulations if Smith had not provided the swab six days before his death.

The taking of DNA from deceased persons could be a future option to aid law enforcement, he added.