Sonia Sutcliffe: who is Peter Sutcliffe’s ex-wife, where is she now and how long was she married to the Yorkshire Ripper?

The Yorkshire Ripper has died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Notorious serial killer Peter Sutcliffe was known to have murdered at least 13 women across the north of England in the late 1970s.

His ex-wife, Sonia, stood by him even after he confessed to his callous crimes. She didn’t file for divorce until 13 years after he was sentenced in 1981.

She is said to have been oblivious to Peter Sutcliffe’s five-year murdering spree across Yorkshire.

Who is Sonia Sutcliffe?

Sonia Sutcliffe, 70, was born on 10 August 1950 to Ukranian and Polish refugees.

She had schizophrenia, and those who knew her said she was a prickly, demanding and often very angry person.

Sonia worked as a school teacher while, unbeknownst to her, Sutcliffe was murdering women across Yorkshire.

How did she meet Peter Sutcliffe?

She was just 16 when she met then 20-year-old Sutcliffe, a grave digger at Bingley Cemetery, at the Royal Standard bar in Bradford’s red light district in 1966.

The year after Sonia and Sutcliffe were engaged, Sutcliffe’s brother reportedly spotted her hanging out with another man, resulting in a furious argument between the couple.

It was then that Sutcliffe is said to have carried out his first attack on an unknown prostitute because he was overcome with jealousy.

Sonia and Sutcliffe patched things up, and they were married in 1974 - a year before he committed his first murder - when she was 24.

Did Sonia know about the murders?

During his killing sprees between 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe used to go home to his wife who reportedly had no idea of his callous crimes.

Working as a long-distance lorry driver, Sutcliffe often sneaked home at night to wash his bloody clothes and used weapons while his wife slept.

It is not known whether or not Sutcliffe attacked Sonia herself.

How did Sonia find out about his crimes?

After Sutcliffe was finally arrested in 1981, Sonia visited him at a police station where he reportedly asked to tell her personally that he was the notorious Yorkshire Ripper.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the murderer said Sonia “had no idea, not a clue” because he was working all day and then killing his victims at night.

He said she was “deeply shocked” when he told her.

Despite being charged with 20 life terms, Sonia stood by him in jail and visited him several times until he was moved from Broadmoor Hospital to HMP Frankland in 2017.

Later, she told Sunday People that she felt compassion for him.

Her sister, Marianne, once said: “He’s the only man in the world for her and always will be.”

She finally divorced Sutcliffe in 1994, after 20 years of marriage, 13 years after he was caught.

Where is Sonia now?

Sonia re-married in 1997, to hairdresser Michael Woodward after meeting him in his salon.

However, she still lives in the same house she shared with her ex-husband in Bradford, which the couple bought for £16,000 in 1977.

She moved into a flat with her husband, but moved back into the property in 2003 where she has remained, living somewhat of a reclusive life, ever since.

Her now-husband lives a 15-minute drive away, after declining to move into the property for reasons that haven’t been made public.