Ripper detective welcomes 'life' sentence ruling

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John Stainthorpe, a retired Huddersfield detective superintendent, said he thought Friday's High Court ruling that Sutcliffe never be released from jail was entirely correct.

"I agree fully with the verdict," he said, "and just think that it's beyond belief that anyone could ever consider releasing such an evil man.

"He killed at least 13 women in very brutal circumstances and tried to kill seven others - a man who is capable of that kind of thing should never be released. "He should die in prison - and probably will now."

Mr Stainthorpe led the investigation into the attempted murder of 21-year-old journalist Yvonne Mysliwiec in Ilkley and worked with fellow officers on many of the murder cases.

Seeing some of the victims Sutcliffe killed has stayed with him to this day. He said: "Peter Sutcliffe was just a thoroughly evil man. I have witnessed some of the results of his handiwork and they were dreadful murders.

"Hitting people with hammers and screwdrivers, it was just dreadful. Some of those people are still alive and having to live through it still - either with their injuries or with the memory of it.

"Perhaps if people had seen what I did they wouldn't be sympathetic towards him."

He also said he did not believe rehabilitating offenders to allow them parole was effective as many go on to reoffend, especially after being involved with police investigations as they are offered an insight into how forces work.

Mr Stainthorpe added: "We're getting far too soft. We don't consider the victims these days. It's how can we rehabilitate the offender? The victims are of little consequence. No one seems to worry about them anymore."