Wearside Jack: The Yorkshire Ripper Tape Hoax Tape (A Tale of Two Jacks)

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Part 3 of a three-part British true-crime documentary series

John Samuel Humble killed nobody, but he had blood on his hands, and he knew it. He was the hoaxer who pretended to be the Yorkshire Ripper. Dubbed Wearside Jack by the newspapers, his infamous ‘I’m Jack’ tape sent the Ripper investigation on a wild goose chase, during which the real killer, Peter Sutcliffe, claimed more victims. One of them, Jayne MacDonald, was a 16-year-old school leaver walking home from a night out. Humble said he goaded detectives with the intention of spurring the enquiry. His plan failed spectacularly. Like many hoaxers, he thought he was safe under a cloak of anonymity, but he reckoned without the determination and long memories of West Yorkshire CID.

This podcast features an exclusive interview with a member of the Yorkshire Ripper incident room, Detective Chief Superintendent (retired) Bob Taylor of West Yorkshire Police.

The Six O’clock Knock is a Psycho Killer production.

Transcript
Music] This podcast contains descriptions of death and violence that some listeners may find upsetting. Hello and welcome to the Six O’clock Knock the true crime podcast where we look at old cases through a modern lens and draw our own unique conclusions I’m Simon Ford a writer and broadcaster with more than 20 years in the business and I’m Jacques Morrell I spent 30 years as a major crime detective with an expectation to ask those awkward and yet obvious questions I felt a few collars in my time and whilst I’ve hung up my boots my yearning for the truth is as strong as ever so the two of us got together decided to do some sleuthing and make podcasts from our enquiries we call it the Six O’clock Knock because that's when a detective likes to pay their suspect a visit first thing in the morning when they're least expecting it this podcast is about a Six O’clock Knock that was 25 years in the making it showcases the kind of dogged police work and dedication to duty that mean criminals always need to be looking over their shoulders and it shows how advances in forensic science coupled with determination professional pride and long memories mean there is no hiding place for criminals especially those who think just because of the passage of time that they've got away with it [Music] we're going back into the story of Peter Sutcliffe the Yorkshire Ripper and one of the most bizarre and baffling aspects of that case the letters and tape recordings sent to assistant chief constable George Oldfield by a man purporting to be the Ripper as soon as Sutcliffe confessed the whole charade was exposed as a wicked hoax the senior detectives on the Yorkshire Ripper case were faced with the realization they'd pinned their hopes on a wild goose chase a wild goose chase which diverted precious resources and cost three women their lives so how was the hoaxer able to enthral the leading detectives George Oldfield and dick holland and why did they ignore other avenues of investigation in their pursuit of a phantom [Music] it started with the letters George Oldfield received the first postmarked Sunderland in march 1978. Dear Sir I’m sorry I cannot give my name for obvious reasons I am the Ripper I’ve been dubbed a maniac by the press but not by you you call me clever and I am you and your mates haven't a clue that thought were in the paper give me fits and not bit about killing myself no chance I’ve got things to do my purpose is to rid the streets of them [ __ ] my one regret is that young lassie MacDonald did not know because change routine that night up to number eight now up to seven but remember Preston 75 get about you know you are right I travel a bit you probably look for me in Sunderland don't bother I’m not daft just post a letter there on one of me trips not a bad place compared with chapel town and Manningham and other places one horse to keep off the streets because I feel it coming on again sorry about that young lassie yours respectfully Jacques the Ripper might write again later I’m not sure last one really deserved it [ __ ] getting younger each time all slot next time I hope what has failed never again too small close call last one the second was sent to the editor of the daily mirror newspaper dear sir I’ve already written to chief constable George Oldfield a man I respect concerning the recent Ripper murders I told him and I’m telling you to warn them [ __ ] I’ll strike again and soon when the heat cools off about the MacDonald lassie I didn't know she was decent and I’m sorry I changed my routine that night up to number eight now you see a seven but remember Preston 75. easy picking them up don't even have to try you think they'd learn but they don't mostly young lassies next time try an older one I hope please haven't a clue yet and I don't leave any I’m very clever and don't think I’m looking for me fingerprints because there aren't any and don't look for me up there in Sunderland because I’m not stupid just pass through the place not a bad place compared to chapel town and Manningham can't walk the streets for them [ __ ] don't forget to warn them I feel it coming on again if I get chance sorry about lassie didn't know yours respectfully Jacques the Ripper might write again after another one's gone maybe Liverpool or even Manchester again too hot here in Yorkshire bye I have given advanced warning so it's yours and their fault the writer threatened to kill an old [ __ ] in Manchester or Liverpool Oldfield thought the murder of vera millward the Ripper's ninth victim in Manchester in May 1978 was the Ripper making good on his grim promise almost a year later a third letter dated the 23rd of march 1979 confirmed this suspicion in Oldfield's mind again it was postmarked Sunderland dear officer sorry I haven't written about a year to be exact but I haven't been up north for quite a while I wasn't kidding the last time I wrote saying the hall would be older this time and maybe I’d strike in Manchester for a change you should have took aid that bit about her being in hospital funny the lady mentioned something about being in the same hospital before I stopped a [ __ ] and wears the lady won't worry about hospitals now will she I bet you wondering how come I haven't been to work for ages well I would have been if it hadn't been for your cursed coppers I had the lady just where I wanted her and I was about to strike when one of your curse and police car stopped right outside the lane he must have been a dumb copper because he didn't see anything he didn't know how close he was to catching me to tell you the truth I thought I was coloured the lady says don't worry about the coppers little did she know that bloody cop has saved her neck that was last month so I don't know when I’ll get back on the job but I know it won't be a chapel town too bloody hot there maybe Bradford's manning him might write again if up north chat the Ripper PS did he get letter I sent the daily mirror in Manchester the writer claimed Vera millward had had treatment at the Manchester royal infirmary the hospital next to where she was murdered both Oldfield and his number two dick holland were convinced this information could only have been divulged by vera to her killer what they didn't know or chose to ignore was that newspapers in Manchester had been told as much by vera's common law husband the story was out there for anyone with a mind to read it Oldfield was being taken in by the person writing those letters an investigative team was brought together in Sunderland to find the letter writer and nailed the Ripper there were other tantalizing similarities whoever wrote the letter had the same blood group as one found at one of the Ripper murder scenes June in the Pennine foothills is compensation for the bitter months of winter summer transforms the bleak landscape swathes of green cloaked the moors and the parks of Leeds in Bradford become a playground of wide lawns and leafy groves sergeant Megan Winterburn walked through the sunlight of a June morning to her job at Leeds central police station Milgarth was a seven-story brick fortress the lower floors were windowless those above them were little more than slits this brutalist block house was home to the Ripper investigation in the summer of 1979 the incident room already took up two floors one floor was the incident room itself the floor beneath was empty except for the pit props supporting the weight of the paperwork above assistant chief constable George Oldfield

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