Man denies charges on Ripper hoax

Forensic experts have searched Humble's house in Sunderland

A 49-year-old man has appeared before Leeds Crown Court charged with making hoax claims during the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.

John Humble, of Flodden Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, denies four counts of perverting the course of justice.

He is accused of sending three letters and a tape to police investigating Peter Sutcliffe's serial murders of young women in the late 1970s.

Humble was remanded in custody and a trial date set for 20 March.

Hoax exposed

Two of the letters, which taunted police for their lack of progress in catching the Ripper, were sent directly to Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield, who led the investigation in the late 1970s.

A third letter was sent to a national newspaper office in Manchester.

The audio tape, which purported to be from the murderer and featured a man with a strong Sunderland accent, was played on national television in 1979.

A huge police effort was concentrated on the Sunderland area after senior officers decided the Wearside voice on the tape was that of the murderer.

But the letters and tape were exposed as a hoax when Peter Sutcliffe was arrested in 1981 and confessed to being the killer.

Sutcliffe, now 59, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, was jailed for life later that year for the murders of 13 women and is currently being held at Broadmoor special hospital.