Son of Yorkshire Ripper's first victim 'grateful' for letter from serial killer

The son of the Yorkshire Ripper's first victim has responded to a letter sent to ITV Calendar by the serial killer.

Richard McCann, whose mother Wilma was killed by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975, released a video on social media stating that he was grateful for the fact some sense of responsibility was shown in the letter.

In his letter, Sutcliffe – writing under his adopted name of Peter Coonan – says: “Yes, I did some bad things, but I just want people to know that I did not attack or murder any males.”

McCann, who is now a motivational speaker, said he believed the message was the first time Sutcliffe had acknowledged that what he did was wrong.

Wilma McCann was murdered on playing fields close to the family home in Leeds. She was the first of 13 victims known to have been killed by Sutcliffe.

He was found guilty of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others and sentenced to at least 30 years in jail.