Prison report awaited in inquest into death of Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe

A coroner is waiting for a report from the prison ombudsman into the death of serial killer Peter Sutcliffe as part of the inquest proceedings.

By Fiona Thompson

Published 1st Feb 2021, 12:29 BST

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The assistant senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Crispin Oliver, held a brief hearing at Crook Civic Centre to give an update into how the inquiry was progressing earlier today, Monday, February 1.

Sutcliffe died from a combination of Covid-19, diabetes and heart disease in November as he was in the University Hospital of North Durham, a short distance from HMP Frankland, where had been serving his life sentence.

The 74-year-old, dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, murdered 13 women and attacked more, terrifying Northern England in the late 1970s until he was caught in 1980.

Peter Sutcliffe, who changed his surname to Coonan, was a prisoner in HMP Frankland in Durham and died in the city's hospital in November.

Peter Sutcliffe, who changed his surname to Coonan, was a prisoner in HMP Frankland in Durham and died in the city's hospital in November.

Mr Oliver said the prisoner changed his surname by deed poll in 2001 and for the purposes of the inquest will be known as Peter William Coonan, previously known as Peter William Sutcliffe.

Updating the record about the progression of the case, the coroner said: “I can confirm that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s report is still pending.

“I am awaiting that.”

PA has reported the coroner said there will be another hearing to assess progress on Wednesday, March 31.

Sutcliffe had a number of underlying health conditions which left him almost blind and needing to use a wheelchair.

He had also had a pacemaker fitted.

Inquest proceedings have been told Sutcliffe died from Covid-19, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease on Friday, November 13.

It was reported that he had refused treatment for coronavirus, having been ill for some weeks.

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