Yorkshire Ripper Leeds attack survivor tells her story in new book

A former Leeds University arts student  who survived a brutal attack by the  Yorkshire Ripper  has written  a book about her life and how art helped her cope with the trauma.
By Mark Lavery
Published 15th Oct 2020, 06:00 BST
Updated 15th Oct 2020, 13:01 BST
Yorkshire Ripper Peter SutcliffeYorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe
Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe

Peter Sutcliffe repeatedly struck 20-year-old Mo Lea over the head with a hammer and stabbed her with a screwdriver, causing her life-threatening injuries in the attack in October 1980.

Mo was attacked near Leeds University after going to a pub in Chapeltown with friends.

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In the book - Facing The Yorkshire Ripper The Art Of Survival - Mo reveals how she has wrestled with the past, struggling to come to terms with what happened.

Her writing offers an alternative account of her as a survivor with a success story.

Mo went on to practise and teach art at the University of Bedfordshire for more than 25 years.

Sutcliffe, a lorry driver from Bradford, was jailed in 1981 for 13 murders and seven attempted murders during a six-year period

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In the book Mo tells how she had no control over unwanted media intervention.

Sometimes the Ripper story would appear on the morning news while she was getting ready to go to work.

She learned to contain her anxiety but she couldn't predict or escape the uncomfortable moments that reminded her of her past trauma.

A spokesperson for publisher Pen & Sword Books Ltd, said: "Mo's art has been an important factor in her life and has used it as an outlet to explore her pain, anger, suffering and recovery.

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"After years of personal growth and recovery, a short film was made of Mo Lea creating a drawing from the iconic photograph of the man who had tried to take her life.

"She is filmed ripping up the Ripper. She is filmed tearing up the portrait that she had so carefully drawn, rendering him as disposable as a piece of litter.

"The film shows how Mo turned her story around, making Sutcliffe the victim and herself, the triumphant survivor.

"Mo had finally found a way of stepping out of the frame. She no longer felt Iike running away.

"The illustrations (in the book) describe better than any words, her journey from tragic despair to calmness and acceptance.

"By writing this book Mo Lea has found a way to reclaim her story."