Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe’s request to be treated as a lower-risk prisoner turned down by prison bosses
THE Yorkshire Ripper has had his bid to downgrade his status as a high-risk lag refused - in a move that will keep him in a top-security jail.
Peter Sutcliffe, 72, had his appeal turned down as he has not undergone therapy sessions with psychologists.
That means he is not deemed to have come to terms with his vile crimes.
The fiend - who killed 13 women and attempted to murder seven more - launched his appeal to have his ‘Category A’ prisoner status reduced.
But a board of experts - sitting at HMP Frankland, County Durham where he is held - turned it down, meaning he will have to stay at the tough jail.
The move will delight surviving victims and relatives of those he killed, who fear him being moved to a cushier prison - particularly in Yorkshire.
But bleating Sutcliffe - moved to Frankland from Broadmoor high-security hospital in 2016 - was furious at the expert panel’s decision.
The serial killer, who has a legal-aid solicitor, moaned to a pal: “They went ahead with the meeting although I wasn’t there.
“My solicitor knew they would turn it down as I hadn’t had the psychology and asked for it to be postponed.
“But they just turned it down and sent me a note saying ‘Your Cat A is remaining.’
“It is outrageous and I am angry, as they are just leaving me to rot.
“They have completely ignored the 32 years I spent at Broadmoor and all the therapy I had there.
“You would think you would be able to attend your own Cat A meeting, but they prefer to keep me in the dark.”
Neil Jackson, 60, of Leeds - whose mother Emily, 42, was Sutcliffe’s second murder victim in 1976 - said: “Nothing should be done to make his life easier - it is easy enough as it is.
“This is a correct decision and he should definitely be barred from moving to a more relaxed prison.”
Sutcliffe - whose reign of terror in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester was from 1975 to 1980 - hoped the tribunal would lower him to Category B.
That would declare him less dangerous, give him more privileges - and pave the way for a prison move.
The killer has long harboured hopes of a switch closer to Yorkshire, where it would be easier for friends and family to visit.
He was jailed for life in 1981, before being switched to Broadmoor in 1984 after being declared paranoid schizophrenic.
More in News
But Sutcliffe was then moved to Frankland in August 2016, where he serves his time alongside other killers including Ian Huntley and Levi Bellfield.
A source said: “He is moaning about the decision - but he cannot be surprised.
“He is Britain’s most notorious killer and it would cause outrage if the prison did anything to make his life easier.”
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]