Who was Wearside Jack John Humble and what happened to the Yorkshire Ripper's ... trends now
ITVX's new true crime series, The Long Shadow, delves into the five-year manhunt for one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, Peter Sutcliffe.
Sutcliffe's heinous crimes sparked one of the largest criminal investigations in UK history, during which he was dubbed by the British press as The Yorkshire Ripper.
The seven-part series draws on an extensive archive of police reports, transcripts and case files from the investigation which was derailed by a hoax confession.
John Humble hampered the investigation through a series of hoax letters and an anonymous tape, claiming he was the killer.
The Long Shadow, written by George Kay and directed by BAFTA-winning Lewis Arnold, is set to release September 25.
But who is Wearside Jack John Humble, and what happened to him? Here is everything you need to know about the hoaxer as the series unfolds.
ITVX's new true crime series, The Long Shadow, delves into the five-year manhunt for one of Britain's most notorious serial killers that was derailed by hoaxer John Humble (pictured)
Humble taunted police detectives in the 1970s by claiming to be the Yorkshire Ripper in three letters and an audio tape. Pictured: An envelope Humble sent West Yorkshire police in 1979
Wearside Jack was the nickname given to John Samuel Humble, the infamous hoaxer who claimed to be The Yorkshire Ripper.
With his thick Sunderland accent, Humble gained the nickname 'Wearside Jack', and prompted police to extend their investigation from the West Yorkshire area.
Humble sent three letters to the police and a cassette tape in June 1979, two years before the real killer Peter Sutcliffe was caught.
The infamous tape which taunted police for years lasted for 14 seconds, and was played by Chief Constable George Oldfield, at Halifax's Old CourtHouse to more than 100 officers.
It said: 'I'm Jack. I see you are having no luck in catching me.
'I have the greatest respect for you, George, but Lord you are no nearer catching me now than four years ago, when I started.
'I reckon your boys are letting you down, George. Ya can't be much good, can ya?'
The infamous tape which taunted police for years lasted for 14 seconds and was played by Chief Constable George Oldfield at Halifax's Old Court House to more than 100 police officers
Despite expert's doubts over the accuracy of the tape and letters, Oldfield began discounting suspects who did not have a Wearside accent - convinced the confession was from the murderer.
Humble was said to be an avid reader who had a fascination with Jack the Ripper - a killer who targeted prostitutes in the East End of London in the 1800s and inspired Sutcliffe's moniker The Yorkshire Ripper.
Born on January 8 1956, he was said to have 'above average' school results, but left school at 16, having off jobs as a security guard and in hospital laundry before becoming a labourer.
Humble had previously been arrested at the age of 19 and convicted at a young offenders institution for actual
