Chester-based graphologist Diane Simpson spent hours face to face with one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers, the Yorkshire Ripper.
Earlier this month, reports circled that he could soon launch a bid for freedom following a landmark judgement that whole-life jail terms were ‘inhuman’.
Reporter Ellie Cullen spoke to Diane to find out her views on the ruling:
World-renowned graphologist Diane Simpson says the Yorkshire Ripper will never walk the streets again – despite a recent ruling that condemning him to life in jail is ‘against his human rights’.
Earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that giving convicted murderers no chance of freedom amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment.
Their decision means whole-life sentences could now be reviewed after 25 years, igniting fears that the UK’s most dangerous criminals could soon be launching bids for freedom.
Chester-based Diane, who earned the trust of one of the most appalling predators in UK history and persuaded him to confess to further crimes, admits to being ‘appalled and shocked’ when she first heard about the judgement.
But she says she is still convinced Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe will never walk free.
“There’s no question in my mind that he will never be released,” she said. “I can’t imagine what grounds he would have to appeal for freedom.”
Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, Diane takes a very relaxed view of the European court’s ruling, saying reports in the media have been ‘greatly exaggerated’.
This from a woman who has repeatedly stared into the eyes of a serial murderer.
“They’re not about to release these people,” she said. “They’re going to review the evidence – and that’s different.
“As a human being, knowing what I do with these cases, of course they shouldn’t get out.
“But they can’t have one law for one criminal, and another law for others.”
Peter Sutcliffe was given 20 life sentences for the murder of 13 women – ‘heinous’ crimes, Diane says, that went against the human rights of his victims.
But the handwriting expert still believes every prisoner should have the right to have their cases reviewed.
She added: “Of course I believe in the rights of the victims and the families. I’ve worked with some of the victims and their voices should be heard.
“And I don’t think the prisoners who brought this appeal to the European court who say it’s against their human rights is anything we should listen to.
“But I do believe everyone should have the right of appeal if new evidence is found.
“Peter Sutcliffe can appeal until his heart’s content but he will never be free.”
Diane’s first contact with the dark world of Peter Sutcliffe came when she worked with the Ripper police squad during the original investigation.
Working from an office on Northgate Street, the experienced graphologist – a handwriting expert – was called by West Yorkshire police after they were sent ‘hoax’ letters and tapes claiming to be from the killer.
She studied the writing in the anonymous letters, as well as the writing on the parcel that enclosed the tapes.
The letters turned out to be a red-herring, allowing Sutcliffe to continue his bloody killing spree.
The murderer was eventually caught in 1981.
“I remember he tried to plead guilty to manslaughter at first,” said Diane.
“Thank goodness the judge didn’t accept that and he was found guilty of murder.
“If they’d still allowed hanging he would have been hanged.”
That was not the last Diane would see of Sutcliffe.
Their paths were to cross once again more than nine years later when the Ripper invited her to visit him in Broadmoor, a high security hospital.
“It came as a surprise,” said Diane. “I refused at first.”
But six months later she was staring into his piercing brown eyes.
Over the course of the next ten years, Diane spent 400 hours talking to Sutcliffe, a man she calls a ‘manipulative and prolific liar’.
She was instrumental in his confession over the frenzied attack on 14-year-old schoolgirl Tracy Browne, who survived five blows from Sutcliffe’s hammer.
Diane said: “He indicated there were crimes he’d committed that he hadn’t yet confessed to. Eventually he confessed to further attacks.
“It was a huge release. It finally gave people closure.”
Sutcliffe is one of just 49 killers in the UK serving whole life tariffs. Others include Moors murderer Ian Brady, Rosemary West and, more recently, Dale Cregan.
Under current law, whole life tariff prisoners will almost certainly never be released from prison because their offences are deemed to be so grave.
They can be freed only on compassionate grounds by the Justice Secretary if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated.
But despite the new ruling from Europe, Diane does not believe it will have any impact on Sutcliffe.
For him, she says, life really will mean life.
