Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we examine the dark history of Peter Sutcliffe, the English serial killer known to the world as the "Yorkshire Ripper". Between 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe murdered thirteen women and attempted to kill seven others across Northern England, often targeting sex workers in a mission he claimed was ordained by God,.

We dig into the details of one of the largest and most expensive manhunts in British history, exploring how Sutcliffe evaded capture for five years despite being interviewed by police on nine separate occasions.

Key topics in this episode include:

• The Attacks: Sutcliffe’s brutal use of hammers and screwdrivers, beginning with assaults in 1969 and escalating to a murder spree that terrorized West Yorkshire and Manchester,,.

• Investigative Failures: How an overwhelmed manual filing system and the infamous "Wearside Jack" hoax recording led police to ignore vital forensic evidence and survivor testimony,.

• Institutional Sexism: We discuss the misogynistic attitudes of the 1970s police force, which focused heavily on the victims' lifestyles and ignored the fact that Sutcliffe attacked women from all walks of life,.

• The "Byford Report" & Unsolved Crimes: While Sutcliffe was eventually caught by chance in 1981, a secret government report later revealed he was likely responsible for many more attacks than those for which he was convicted,.

Sutcliffe died in custody in 2020, but the shadow he cast over the justice system and the families of his victims remains,.