Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe tests positive (Image: Getty)
After five nights in hospital, the serial killer returned to the top security prison, HMP Frankland, in County Durham, on Tuesday. But reports emerged the 74 year old has been diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Sutcliffe was moved into isolation and is expected to be monitored.
A source told : “He started showing symptoms on Thursday.
“The results were turned around quickly because of the danger of him spreading it.
“The worry for him is that he ticks so many of the danger categories for coronavirus.
“He is already in ill health, he is overweight and he is old. If things go downhill for him, it could be very, very serious.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We do not comment on individuals.”
The notorious serial killer was handed a life-sentence in 1981 for 13 murders and seven attempted murders.
All except two of his murders took place in West Yorkshire, the others were in Manchester.
Mr Sutcliffe initially attacked women and girls in residential areas but moved to red light districts because of his attraction to the vulnerability of prostitutes.
He carried out the murders of fives years but was arrested in Sheffield by South Yorkshire Police for driving with false number plates.
The serial killer was questioned about the killings and he confessed to being the perpetrator.
Mr Sutcliffe claimed the voice of God had sent him on a mission to kill prostitutes.
He initially pleaded not guilty to murder on grounds of diminished responsibility but was convicted of murder by a majority verdict.
At the time, West Yorkshire Police were heavily criticised for their failure to catch the serial killer despite having interview him nine times during their five year investigation.
Mr Sutcliffe was transferred from prison to a high-security psychiatric hospital in 1984 after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
In 2010, the High Court dismissed an appeal by Mr Sutcliffe and confirmed he would serve a whole life sentence and would never be released from custody.
In 2016, he was deemed mentally fit to be returned to prison and was transferred to HMP Frankland.
Over recent years, Mr Sutcliffe’s health has deteriorated and suffered from angina, diabetes and near-blindness following an attack in prison.
He said: “My eyesight is getting worse – I’m bumping into people.
“I’ve been completely blind in one eye for 20 years and the other one is deteriorating at a fair old rate.”
Mr Sutcliffe has previously spoken about his frustration of being handcuffed during a hospital visit.
The serial killer said: “It’s absolutely stupid.
“Where was I going to go in a hospital gown? And how could I get out of the hospital?
“It was like a maze, a massive place. I wouldn’t even attempt it anyway.
“I’ve no intention of doing a runner … just this stupid category A rules they’ve got.”
This is a breaking story. More to follow…
