'Time to stop the cult hero status we attach to killers like Peter Sutcliffe', says Richard McCann

Murderers and criminals such as Peter Sutcliffe should not be treated as 'cult' figures, the son of his first known victim Wilma McCann has said.
Richard McCann. Picture: SWNSRichard McCann. Picture: SWNS
Richard McCann. Picture: SWNS

Richard McCann talked on Friday about the news that the man who murdered his mother when he was just five years old, saying that he hoped now that his name would no longer feature in media headlines.

Sutcliffe's name has cropped up time and again in the 39 years since he was sentenced to the rest of his life behind bars for murdering 13 women and attacking seven others between 1975 and 1980, often in news of his ailing health.

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He died on Friday after reportedly having refused treatment for Covid-19.

Peter SutcliffePeter Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe

Mr McCann said it was time to stop discussing figures such as Sutcliffe and other known murderers with the degree of fascination they have attracted.

"I wouldn't say he should be condemned to being forgotten, but I think we can achieve the same thing by not reporting on and talking about him anymore," Mr McCann said.

"We need to let the families get on with their lives."

Many relatives of the women Sutcliffe killed and attacked still live in Yorkshire, and Mr McCann said that the repeated and often "detailed" discussions of how he inflicted violence created fresh wounds.

Wilma McCann, who was murdered by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975. Picture courtesy of Richard McCannWilma McCann, who was murdered by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975. Picture courtesy of Richard McCann
Wilma McCann, who was murdered by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975. Picture courtesy of Richard McCann
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"There was one police officer interviewed on BBC earlier about how the victims died.

"We know how he killed them. Was it really right for the BBC to air that? For many people, it brings back horrific memories.

"There is a level of repeated trauma when people talk about what he did over and over again.

"I think it's important we never use the nicknames that some of the tabloids gave criminals like Sutcliffe. We all know which ones we are talking about.

Richard McCannRichard McCann
Richard McCann
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"Calling people by these names gives them some sort of cult status, and it needs to stop."

Mr McCann has gone on to be a successful motivational speak and published author, and still lives in Leeds.

Last month, on the 45th anniversary of his mother Wilma's death, Mr McCann issued a plea to West Yorkshire Police to apologise as an organisation for rhetoric which was used during the late 1970s towards some of the women Sutcliffe murdered.

That apology was issued earlier today on behalf of the force's current Chief Constable John Robins.

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Speaking on this, Mr McCann said the rhetoric used to "blame" sex workers "did nothing" to help those families impacted.

"In fact, it exacerbated any damage that's been caused by the crime itself.

"The way some parts of society spoke about the women involved in that was victim blaming. It's like saying someone was raped because they had a short skirt on.

"Even blaming women for deciding to be sex workers is absolutely wrong. You would hope that we have come a long way since then, and we have, but there is still a lot to be done."