Detective who worked on Peter Sutcliffe case says 'nobody will shed a tear' over his death

Families 'won't shed a tear' over Peter Sutcliffe dying in prison, one of the detectives who worked on the case has said.
By Susie Beever
Published 13th Nov 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 13th Nov 2020, 12:18 BST
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Former detective Bob Bridgestock said he hoped news of Sutcliffe's death would bring some closure to those impacted by his five-year spree of evil, and that they would "never have to hear his name again".

“Today is about the families and they won’t shed a tear for him, but it will bring back some terrible memories for them,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

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“For those that were attacked and survived, it will give them a little bit of peace knowing that they don’t actually have to hear about him after today any more.”

Crowds pictured outside court following the arrest of Peter SutcliffeCrowds pictured outside court following the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe
Crowds pictured outside court following the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe

News broke on Friday morning that Sutcliffe had died in prison – reportedly after refusing treatment after contracting Covid-19.

He was serving a whole life sentence for the murders of 13 women and attacks on seven others in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

The detective added that hindsight was "a wonderful thing", but senior officers on the Peter Sutcliffe case “wore blinkers on the investigation”.

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He said: “It’s the victims that served the life sentence and then the victims’ families that really serve the true life sentences.

DCI Bob Bridgestock pictured at a press conference in 1995DCI Bob Bridgestock pictured at a press conference in 1995
DCI Bob Bridgestock pictured at a press conference in 1995

“For them today, they will have some kind of closure.

“The news today will bring back some very sad memories for a lot of them. And we should remember the victims, not the killer.

“The police weren’t capable but (back) then the ability of the police was limited, the reviews have shown how limited they were.

“I can remember Josephine Whitaker’s murder, being in pouring-down weather with another officer, waiting over an hour for some kind of tent to come and try to protect her, to preserve the scene.

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Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald and Jean Jordan. Bottom row: Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill.Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald and Jean Jordan. Bottom row: Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill.
Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald and Jean Jordan. Bottom row: Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill.

“We use the tarpaulin from a nearby wagon, because it took an hour to get some kind of structure there to protect her.

“And it’s those kind of things that, fortunately, changed rapidly after he was caught.”

Speaking to Radio 4, Mr Bridgestock went on to say that many people would be relieved now that he had died.

He added: “Peter Sutcliffe wasn’t a very intelligent killer, he was just brutal.

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“It fits, in my mind, into the likes of (Myra) Hindley and (Ian) Brady and the likes of Robert Black – serial killers who will be detested way after they’ve gone.

“I’ve walked with my dog this morning and people have said ‘Good news, good riddance’, and that’s what a lot of people will be thinking about (it).”