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The Yorkshire Ripper’s ashes have been sent to two of the serial killer’s friends – by Royal Mail special delivery.
Peter Sutcliffe was cremated in secret last month, after the 74-year-old died at the University Hospital of North Durham, three miles from his HMP Frankland cell.
His brother, Mick, has now told the Mirror that the ashes were delivered to him before be divided the powder into two piled – boxed them up – and took them to the post office.
They were sent by special delivery to two of the Ripper’s friends.
Mick, 70, said that he did not want to hold on to his brother’s remains and, because of his own ill-health, he was unable to scatter them.
The ashes had arrived last week, inside a plain plastic bag placed in a box.
Mick said: “Somebody called me last Thursday and said the ashes would be with me at 12 noon the next day.”
When the package arrived he peered inside but felt no emotion. “It was just white powder. I did not feel anything. He is gone and that is it,” he said.
Mick, from Bingley, West Yorks, said that Sutcliffe had wanted his remains to be scattered at a secret location.
Their father John had his ashes scattered at Arnside, Cumbria, after his death aged 81 in 2004.
The following year Sutcliffe was allowed out of Broadmoor to visit the spot. Mick, who has lung disease, said he was too unwell to fulfil his brother’s wishes.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Peter wanted me to scatter them but it was too far for me to go, so I divided them up between two of his friends. They were two people who were regularly in touch with Peter and he considered them to be his friends.”
Sutcliffe, 74, who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980, died in hospital in Durham on November 13 after refusing treatment for Covid-19.
He also suffered from pneumonia, diabetes and heart disease. His ex-wife Sonia, 70, was named as next of kin and she is believed to have arranged his funeral, which was held two weeks later.
But none of the killer’s family, including his two brothers and two sisters, were invited.
Mick, who spoke every week by phone to Sutcliffe, claims he was only told after it had taken place.
After hearing of the cremation, he said: “Our Peter would go absolutely barmy if he knew I didn’t know.
“Peter has caused so much pain.
“He also put our family through hell.
“So we needed to be at that funeral to get that closure.”
Mick says he does not know what will now happen with the Ripper’s ashes.
But Neil Jackson, whose mum Emily was killed by Sutcliffe, said: “They should take him to a tip.”
