The Sinister Man Who Helped The Yorkshire Ripper | Our Life

A documentary about the hoax of the century - Wearside Jack - who diverted millions of pounds and man-hours from the Ripper inquiry 20 years ago. Subscribe to Our Life: https://bit.ly/3dBMxvl

In 1979, police diverted a huge manhunt for Britain's most notorious serial killer from West Yorkshire to Sunderland. They were convinced that the man who had brutally murdered eight women and attacked seven others came from Wearside. But they were wrong. They were victims of a hoax, and the consequences were disastrous. Their decision came after receiving three letters postmarked Sunderland, and a tape recording from a man with a Wearside accent. He seemed to have inside information about the murders. In The Hoaxer we reveal exactly what convinced the police the macabre messages were genuine.

This film was first broadcast: 24 Jun 1999

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