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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer 'Wearside Jack' tried to hide voice when finally caught
Top cop Chris Gregg reveals how police tracked down John Humble, 20 years after he faced justice for the most infamous hoax in British criminal history The alcoholic loner behind the infamous taped message which derailed the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry tried to hide his voice when he was arrested. The former detective who brought 'Wearside Jack' to justice told how John Humble 'kept nodding' in his first interview with police, knowing that the mere sound of his voice would give him away. It was only when he was told that a 'one in a billion match' had been made to his DNA from a tiny sample of saliva taken from one of his hoax letters to cops that he finally confessed. The Mirror interviewed retired police chief Chris Gregg to mark the 20th anniversary of the investigation into the most infamous hoax in British criminal history. Humble, then aged 50, agreed to read out a transcript of the original tape sent to police; it was 'chilling' for Chris, who heard it again for the first time in a quarter of a century. The hoax by Humble, who died in 2019 aged 63, cost the lives of three women after his 'I'm Jack' tape and three separate letters - one to the Daily Mirror - diverted the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry away from the real killer. With the nation horror-struck as the Ripper's murder spree went on, Humble sent detectives a two-minute recorded message and letters that hobbled the police inquiry in 1978 and 1979. Peter Sutcliffe was jailed for life in 1981, but the identity of the hoaxer remained a mystery for another 24 years. A cold case review conducted by West Yorkshire Police in 2005 finally brought a breakthrough thanks to advances in forensic science and the tiny sample from one of the hoax envelopes. It was matched with the police record of the DNA of Humble, who had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly in 2001. It led cops straight to the door of the former security guard who lived with his brother in the Ford area of Sunderland, just a couple of miles from where voice experts said the hoaxer was from. He was arrested and brought to Yorkshire to be interviewed by a team led by Chris, the new head of West Yorkshire Police CID. As Humble read the transcript of the 1979 recording which he had sent to derail the entire Yorkshire Ripper inquiry, Chris knew he had 'got his man'. The former Det Chief Supt told the Mirror: "Humble had quite a remarkable memory; he took himself back to when he made it, it was an incredible moment to hear him read it out. "He had made it 1979 and yet to listen to it again all those years later was just extraordinary because it was exactly the same. He took himself back in time to when he did it and it was quite remarkable to hear it again." The 'voice of the Ripper' tape left its mark on the families of the victims of the real killer Peter Sutcliffe. Chris recalled: "I remember being outside court after Humble had been jailed with Richard McCann, the son of Yorkshire Ripper victim Wilma McCann. He told me: 'The voice of the killer was always the voice on that tape, because I was a child, that was how I felt about it'. "Those last three Ripper victims may not have died had it not been for Humble, it proved to be tragic, he did something that he never needed to do. We had a stroke of luck with that piece of the old envelope being found, but you make your own luck." Humble, who died in 2019, had initially refused to let detectives hear his voice in interview, nodding his head to answer questions, knowing his first spoken words were likely to confirm his identity. But he was then told about the DNA match to the envelope which he had sealed more than 25 years earlier. The discovery of the envelope was down to the sheer determination of Chris Gregg. He had been part of the hunt for the Wearside Jack which had cost £6m and the lives of Barbara Leach: 20, from Bradford, who was killed in September 1979; Marguerite Walls: 47, from Leeds, murdered in August 1980, and Jacqueline Hill: 20, from Leeds, the Ripper's last victim in November 1980. Sutcliffe was finally arrested eight weeks later. The cold case review was begun by Chris after he was appointed head of CID in 2004. He brought a breakthrough thanks to advances in DNA technology and a sample of saliva from the third hoax letter seal, which was sent to the police. The second one, post marked Sunderland, 10am, 13 March 1978, was sent to the 'Chief Editor, Daily Mirror Publishing Office, Manchester (0161 STD Code) Lancs.' Chris, 68 now and retired from the force, was determined to solve the case after working on the original Yorkshire Ripper investigation. He recalled: "I told the two detectives to accumulate all the Sutcliffe material to bring into a major crime store and establish what happened to letters and tapes. First port of call - do you have letters and tape? "There was a drawer at the old police forensic labs in Wetherby which was still marked Ripper letters. But it was empty. The letters were tracked, the three of them all went to the London forensic lab and they had used a chemical which had a destructive quality. "The papers did not just turn purple, but black, they had to fumigate the lab afterwards, but it proved that those letters were destroyed in the fingerprint process." He went on: "Not to be deterred, I knew from my experience, in high profile unsolved cases, scientists would keep snippets of exhibits, cut out garments in a murder for example, and save them for advances in science. "So it was not a far fetched idea to think it may have happened with Wearside Jack." He wrote to the Head of Lab in Wetherby and asked 'can you categorically say there is nothing left from the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry?' Months later, he received a call 'out of the blue' to say they had found a 3cm seal from letter No 3, to the police, the last one to the force. It was perfectly preserved between two glass slides; they were covered in dust. But the seal inside quickly gave the 'one in a billion match' to Humble. It solved a crime which made headlines around the world. Chris said: "It was one of the most defining moments of my career. If we had not found him, I am convinced that he would have taken that secret to the grave. He had not told a living soul what he had done."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Prince William never takes break from royal duties, not even on family vacations
Prince William may be on holiday with Kate Middleton and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, but his work as the Duke of Cornwall never truly takes a back seat. During a recent visit to the Duchy of Cornwall estate, The Telegraph witnessed how William remains focused on improving life for its residentseven while away with his family. One of the family's favourite spots is Tresco, an island in the Isles of Scilly, part of the duchy. Here, the prince is well known for chatting with locals about community needs and development. His efforts have led to tangible improvements, including a new healthcare centre with a maternity suite, housing plans for essential workers like teachers and doctors, and initiatives promoting sustainable tourism. The Isles of Scilly hold a special place for William, as family holidays there echo his own childhood trips with Princess Diana and the future King Charles, People reported. A holidaymaker who spotted the couple in 2020 told the Daily Mirror, 'William and Kate were riding their bicycles, having a laugh. They looked so happy enjoying the weather. I did do a double-take. They were really friendly and said hello.' In May this year, Prince William returned to the Isles of Scilly on official duty — much to the chagrin of his family. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'My family are very upset I'm here without them,' he told the Daily Mail. 'The children will kill me if I don't go home later.' He was spotted buying pastries at a local cafe, likely to bring back for them. The Duchy of Cornwall, established by King Edward III in 1337, covers around 130,000 acres of land and assets, supporting the heir to the throne and his family financially. But William's focus goes beyond finance, he is committed to bettering the lives of those living on duchy land, prioritising sustainability, mental health, and charitable partnerships. 'II'm trying to make sure I'm prioritizing stuff that's going to make people's lives, living in those areas, better. This is what we're going to do to make people's lives in Cornwall better,' William said.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Love Island's Arabella Chi gives birth and shares unique name for daughter
Former Love Island star Arabella Chi has announced that she's given birth. The reality TV star also shared with fans the name that herself and her partner Billy Henty have chosen for their newborn daughter. Arabella took to social media on Friday evening to share a photo of her baby girl snug in a 'Hello world' baby grow, announcing her birth date as 20 May. The couple have lovingly named their daughter Gigi Harper, with Arabella expressing her elation: "Our worlds are complete. Gigi Harper Henty. 20/05/2025. 6.2 lbs." Messages of congratulations flooded in from celebrity friends and followers alike, with Claudia Fogarty, who's also expecting, commenting: "Aww congratulations gorgeous girl she is just beautiful. sending lots of love to you both xxxx" and Samira Mighty exclaiming: "Congratulations sweetheart." Arabella and Billy first shared their pregnancy news last December with a charming Instagram post, capturing "Due May 2025" etched into the sands of a Dubai beach, followed by footage of Billy tenderly embracing Arabella's blossoming bump, reports OK!. Arabella captioned the moment: "Dreams do come true ... Baby Henty due May 2025. You already make our hearts full and we can't wait to meet you little one." Earlier this year, Arabella shared the delightful news that a baby girl was on the way. In a heartwarming video posted on 4th January, she treated fans to a sneak peek of her stunning apartment, beautifully decorated for the gender reveal with a vibrant blue and pink cake, a bunting, balloons, and adorable baby bottles on display. During the video, a special moment was captured when Arabella and her partner, Billy, whom she has been dating since March 2024, popped a pair of balloons which burst open releasing a rain of pink confetti. The overjoyed parents-to-be then let out a scream of delight. Arabella penned an enthusiastic caption to accompany the sweet announcement: "It's a ...... We cannot wait to meet our little princess." Prior to this, the star confessed to having long-awaited dreams of becoming a mum. Speaking candidly to the Daily Mirror, she shared: "I've always wanted kids and I feel like it's just finding the right person." She also expressed her views on age pressures when considering starting a family. "I think a lot of people have a lot of pressure on age and I am 33 going on 34 next month. But it was one of those things where I wasn't going to rush into it until I met the right person." She further mentioned her calm approach towards the future. "At the back of my mind, I thought, 'I do hope that I find that person.' But if it didn't happen, it didn't happen. But I'm so lucky that it happened by chance."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Prince William Has an Unlikely Habit During Family Vacations with Kate Middleton and Their Kids
Prince William doesn't completely leave royal work behind when on family vacations with Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Telegraph tagged along with the Prince of Wales on a recent visit to the Duchy of Cornwall, the $1 billion estate that provides funds for the heir to the throne, and learned that William's mission to make life better for its residents doesn't pause during private time. When they visit Tresco — a favorite destination for the family located in the Isles of Scilly, which is part of the duchy — the prince is known for chatting with locals about ways to improve the community. His conversations have resulted in changes such as a new healthcare facility equipped with a maternity suite, a housing plan for key workers such as teachers and doctors and a project aimed at creating more sustainable tourism. Family trips to the Isles of Scilly, off the southwest coast of England, are a throwback to Prince William's own childhood, when he and Prince Harry were taken to the islands by their parents, Princess Diana and the future King Charles. During a 2020 vacation there, a fellow vacationer told the Daily Mirror, "William and Kate were riding their bicycles, having a laugh. They looked so happy enjoying the weather. I did do a double-take. They were really friendly and said hello." In May 2024, Prince William visited the Isles of Scilly on royal duty, revealing that George, now 11, Charlotte, now 10, and Louis, now 7, were jealous of his work trip. "My family are very upset I'm here without them," he said, according to the Daily Mail. "The children will kill me if I don't go home later." He did purchase pastries from the On the Quay cafe, possibly to bring home and share with his family. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Established by King Edward III in 1337, the Duchy of Cornwall spans 130,000 acres of land, farms and other assets which provide funds to support the heir to the throne and his family. However, Prince William is also determined to make life better for its residents through sustainability objectives, mental health initiatives, charitable partnerships and more. Prince William told The Telegraph, "I'm trying to make sure I'm prioritizing stuff that's going to make people's lives, living in those areas, better. This is what we're going to do to make people's lives in Cornwall better." 'That, I feel as Duke of Cornwall, is something I should be doing," he added. "It's about responsibility, it's about leadership and doing what's right on the social issues of our time." The duchy's secretary, Will Bax, described the Prince of Wales as "a man on a mission" — and "pretty demanding," in a good way. "He's easy to follow because he's got great conviction and personality, and he really wears his heart on his sleeve in terms of social interest and his desire to have a positive impact in the world," Bax said. Estate director Ben Murphy told the outlet that the heir has a "healthy impatience, as his father did," which "puts the wind in our sails." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barry Keoghan's confidence 'knocked out' by rejection
Barry Keoghan's confidence was "knocked out" of him when he got rejected by dance and drama schools. The 32-year-old actor began applying to performing arts institutions following his role as Aido in the Irish Film Board's crime film 'Between the Canals' in 2010, but Barry felt "lost" when he was refused entry into the dance and drama school companies. The movie star told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "I did not get into any. I was lost. I had just finished school. It was like having your confidence knocked out." Despite the setback, Barry eventually enrolled at The Factory - now known as Bow Street Academy - in Dublin. The decision ultimately led to Barry starring in the organised crime drama series 'Love/Hate' in 2013, which helped to kick-start his career in Ireland. He said: "The Factory was not an acting school - it was more of a place of pure collaboration and had an experimental approach." Barry took a different approach to his acting for 'Love/Hate' by meeting "lads" in Galway, Ireland, so he could learn how they "walked and talked". His ability to portray complex characters led to him being cast in the 2017 psychological horror thriller, 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer', which also starred Nicole Kidman as Anna Murphy. Reflecting on his career arc, Barry said: "To go from 'Love/Hate' to 'Sacred Deer' was insane. "It was the first time I ever had control (as an actor). Nicole is a genius. I had a baby-like approach - the way babies look at you and absorb." Barry grew up in modest surroundings, but the 'Saltburn' star now wants to inspire the next generation of budding performers and for them to achieve their dreams in the creative industries. The film star - who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years - said: "I want to make this story of where I came from, and get people on board who are not actors. "It is encouraging kids to have some sort of faith and belief that no matter where you come from ... it shouldn't hold you back."
