Murder mystery game to change name of The Ripper event in Yorkshire after complaint

CluedUpp games hosts murder mystery social events across the world.

However, Leeds woman Jo Cohen told the YEP she was "astonished" after spotting the event - titled 'The Ripper' - was due to be held at a number of Yorkshire cities.

Responding to a request for comment, CluedUpp told the YEP it would be now changing the name of the events - which they said are in "no way whatsoever connected with the Yorkshire Ripper" - following the complaint.

Jo said she grew up in the 1970s during the reign of the ripper and saw first hand the devastation caused to families in the area.

She told the YEP of her horror at spotting the name of the event while searching online.

Jo said: "As a child growing up in the 1970’s I remember the ‘reign’ of Peter Sutcliffe.

"I am completely astonished that Clued Up thought it was appropriate to organise an event in Leeds and Bradford called The Ripper and especially in the current climate.

"Although the game is nationwide and is called The Ripper it hardly seems an appropriate name for the event when it comes to Leeds or Bradford."

The event description hosted on the CluedUpp website reads: "Three men have been struck down by The Ripper and fear is taking its grip on this town.

"Time is running out to catch the killer, it won’t be long before the next victim falls prey to the gruesome desires of The Ripper.

"The police can’t cope with a case this complex, help is desperately needed to solve this murderous mystery.

"Think you have what it takes, Detective?

"Grab your trusted team and put on your sleuthing hats. It’s up to you to crack the case."

Prizes are won during the murder mystery event for the fastest team to complete, best team picture and best team name.

Peter Sutcliffe's killing spree across Yorkshire and Manchester from 1975 to 1980 terrified northern England and led to a huge manhunt and a botched police inquiry.

Sutcliffe was serving a whole life term for the murders of 13 women and the attempted murder of seven more.

He was an inmate of the maximum security Frankland jail and died at the nearby University Hospital of North Durham on November 13.

A spokesman for the company said they had received a single complaint referring to the name and the game is designed to be played in over 1000 cities worldwide.

They said CluedUpp "absolutely acknowledge" that the title of the game "is not suitable for our Yorkshire audience".

In a statement, the spokesman said: "We would like to mention that our "Ripper" mystery is in no way whatsoever connected with the Yorkshire Ripper.

"The storyline is entirely fictional and is based around the killing of 3 men, set in a fictional city.

"The game was designed to be played in over 1000 different cities worldwide rather than specifically Yorkshire.

"However, we absolutely acknowledge that the title of the game is not suitable for our Yorkshire audience and as such we will be changing the name of the mystery to something more appropriate in the local area."