The Home Office has defended its decision to allow the Yorkshire Ripper to leave Broadmoor to visit the spot where his late father's ashes were scattered.

 

This follows a newspaper report that Peter Sutcliffe, 58, who killed 13 women, was allowed a day visit to the coastal town of Arnside, Cumbria, to grieve over his loss.

 

John Sutcliffe, 81, died from cancer at a hospice near his West Yorkshire home.

 

Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton criticised the decision, fearing it would cause more grief, anger and upset to the families of his victims.

 

But the Home Office insisted the decision was "the right and proper thing to do".

 

It was initially made by former Home Secretary David Blunkett and was reaffirmed by Charles Clarke.

 

The Home Office said: "The decision on this individual was made by the previous Home Secretary David Blunkett who felt it was the right and proper thing to do. This decision was subsequently reaffirmed by Charles Clarke.

 

"A full and comprehensive risk assessment was made by the authorities and the individual was closely supervised at all times. At no point was there any danger to members of the public."

 

In May 1981 Sutcliffe was jailed for life at the Old Bailey.

 

Between 1975 and 1981, Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and left seven others for dead, in a killing spree which terrified the entire country.

 

He would batter women over the head with a hammer and stab them in the chest and stomach with a knife or a screwdriver.

 

 

 

http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?storyId=1889259

scary man...

he should die..