Families of women murdered by Peter Sutcliffe blast Netflix for changing title of new documentary

The families of the women murdered by Peter Sutcliffe have blasted Netflix for glorifying the serial killer’s crimes.

Netflix changed the name of its upcoming documentary from Once Upon A Time In Yorkshire to The Ripper, which his victims’ families say is a traumatising term.

In a letter written to the company, they described the term as ‘irresponsible, insensitive and insulting to our families’.

Netflix only changed the name after the families agreed to take part in the documentary on Sutcliffe, who died at the age of 74 in November.

The families of the women murdered by Peter Sutcliffe (pictured) have blasted Netflix for glorifying the serial killer’s crimes after changing the name of its upcoming documentary from Once Upon A Time In Yorkshire to The Ripper

Two of Sutcliffe’s victims Marcella Claxton (right) and Mo Lea (left) and relatives of seven of Sutcliffe’s victims and survivors signed a letter to the company describing the new title as ‘irresponsible, insensitive and insulting to our families’

Two of Sutcliffe’s victims Marcella Claxton and Mo Lea and relatives of seven of Sutcliffe’s victims and survivors signed the letter.

They included Irene Richardson, Emily Jackson, Patricia Atkinson, Olive Smelt, Wilma McCann, Jayne MacDonald and Vera Millward. 

In the letter, they said: ‘The moniker “the Yorkshire Ripper” has traumatised us and our families for the past four decades.

‘It glorifies the brutal violence of Peter Sutcliffe, and grants him a celebrity status that he does not deserve. 

Netflix only changed the name after the families agreed to take part in the documentary on Sutcliffe (pictured in 2015), who died at the age of 74 in November this year

‘Please remember that the word “ripper” relates to ripping flesh and the repeated use of this phrase is irresponsible, insensitive and insulting to our families and our mothers’ and grandmothers’ legacies,’ reported the Sunday Times.

They said they ‘felt betrayed’ by the company and said none would have participated if they had known Netflix would change the documentary’s name to the word that ‘that has haunted us for generations’.

Netflix said the series is ‘not about Sutcliffe’ but rather is a ‘a sensitive re-examination of the crimes within the context of England in the late 1970s’.

It said the series, which comes out on Wednesday, ‘has at its heart the stories of the women who died’, who were dehumanised by the media and the police. 

Portrait of British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, a.k.a. ‘The Yorkshire Ripper,’ on his wedding day, August 10, 1974

It comes after Sutcliffe was understood to have been cremated in a secret ceremony two weeks after his death from coronavirus aged 74.

His funeral is thought to have been arranged by his ex-wife Sonia Woodward, 70, who may also have paid for the ceremony.

But family and friends were barred, with a scheduled Zoom link to the event cancelled at the last minute, according to The Sun. 

A source who knew Sutcliffe told the newspaper: ‘His family think that was Sonia’s doing, and she didn’t want it on Zoom or for people to go so it could remain secret and none of it would be on camera.’

Sutcliffe – diabetic, overweight and with heart problems – died alone on Friday, November 13, after refusing treatment for coronavirus. 

His coffin was surrounded by flowers and music was played during the short ceremony, the newspaper reported. 

Readings from relatives are understood to have been read out.

The son of Sutcliffe’s second victim Emily, 42, who was killed in 1976, said he hoped the killer would ‘burn in hell’. 

Builder Neil Jackson, 62, from Leeds, told the Sun: ‘He should have been hanging from a rope 40-odd years ago when he was caught.

‘And I hope the public is not paying for it, because if we are his ashes should just be sent down the tip.’  

Coroner makes touching tribute to the victims of Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe following his death

A coroner made a touching tribute to the victims of the Yorkshire Ripper’s and their families during an inquest into his death passing on his ‘solidarity and support’.

During a hearing at Crook Civic Centre, assistant senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington Crispin Oliver paid tribute to Peter Sutcliffe’s 13 murder victims.

He also noted nine other women who are known to have been attacked by the serial killer and another woman whose identity was never officially established.

Wilma McCann (left), the first victim of the Yorkshire Ripper, who was murdered in Chapeltown, Leeds in October 1975, and Yvonne Pearson (right), who was murdered in Yorkshire in March 1978

Emily Jackson (left), who was murdered in Leeds in January 1976, and Maureen Long (right), who survived a murder attempt in July 1977

Marguerita Walls (left), who was murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper in Leeds in August 1980 and Helen Rytka (right), who was murdered in Huddersfield in January 1978

Before he began proceedings at an inquest into Sutcliffe’s death, Mr Oliver read out the 21 names of Sutcliffe’s victims as a mark of respect to their friends and family.

He said: ‘Before I go any further, at this stage it’s my usual practice to express a sense of solidarity and support for the family of the deceased and of course I do that but in this case, it is appropriate that my solidarity and support is expressed to the family and friends of the following women.’

He then went on to name all of his victims including; Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Tina Atkinson, Jayne MacDonald, Jean Jordan, Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach, Marguerite Walls and Jacqueline Hill.

The coroner also paid tribute to the known women Sutcliffe attacked including; Anna Rogulskyj, Olive Smelt, Tracy Browne, Marcella Claxton, Marilyn Moore, Upadhya Bandara, Mo Lea, Theresa Sykes. 

Vera Millward (left), who was murdered in Manchester in May 1978, and Jayne MacDonald (right), who was killed in Leeds in June 1977

Josephine Whitaker (left), who was murdered in Halifax in April 1979, and Jean Jordan (right), who was killed in Manchester in October 1977

Barbara Leach (left), who was murdered in Bradford in September 1979, and Patricia Atkinson (right), who was also killed in Bradford in April 1977

Marcella Claxton (left), who was attacked by the Yorkshire Ripper, and Jacqueline Hill (right), the Yorkshire Ripper’s last victim, who was murdered in Leeds in 1980

He further paid tribute to ‘at least one other woman whose identity was never officially established’ and said the inquest must be ‘significant’ for those affected.

One of his victims, Marcella Claxton was just 20 when she lost her unborn child in the appalling attack.

She told the Mirror how his death has given her ‘closure’ nearly four decades on.

She said: ‘I’m happy he’s gone. I’ve thought about what he did to me every day since and although the news that’s he’s died brings those horrible memories back at least now I may be able to get some closure.

‘I’m hoping it will bring me a little peace knowing he’s no longer with us.

‘I have to live with my injuries, 54 stitches in my head, back and front, plus I lost a baby, I was four months pregnant. I still get headaches, dizzy spells and blackouts.’

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