The Long Shadow (2023) s01e07 Episode Script

1
There's never been an
inquiry of this scale
in the annals of police history.
He must speak with a Geordie accent.
Anybody not meeting these
five points, they're gone.
Mr Peter Sutcliffe?
I do not think the man
on the tape is the Ripper.
You've made that clear.
I want that on record.
- But you're wrong.
- This is starting to affect
the public's confidence in the
police as a whole, nationally.
The most wanted man of the century,
more resources than anyone
ever, and you have failed.
I want to ask everyone
to please help us find the
person who killed my daughter.
He won't be back in a hurry.
No. But he'll turn up somewhere.
It's quiet enough here, isn't it?
Yeah, it's fine.
Come here all the time.
We won't be disturbed.
You got a tenner for me?
Why don't we get in t'back?
Oh, no.
Erm
You're my girlfriend.
Is this your car, sir?
Yes.
Can you give me your name and address?
I am John Williams. 65
Dorchester Road, Rotherham.
And who's she?
My girlfriend.
And what's her name?
I don't know. We've not
known each other that long.
Right.
Just stay there.
Just take the keys out of your car.
2-5-6 to Control.
Control speaking.
Number plate check, please.
Roger that. Go ahead.
Yeah, it's foxtrot, echo,
hotel, 9-0-7, Juliet.
Over.
That's coming up as a Skoda saloon.
Owner is a Mr Aslam Khan. Over.
Right, so, the number
plates on your vehicle
don't match that of the car itself.
So what's gonna happen now
is I'm gonna arrest you both
on suspicion of theft.
And if this turns out to
be soliciting as well
Well, we'll get into
that back at the station.
OK?
Right, out you get.
We'll leave your car.
- You heard him. Let's
go. - Come on. Chop-chop.
Come on.
Yeah, stick them in the back.
- Where do you think you're going?
- I need a piss.
Well, quickly, then. Do it over there.
You've been in before,
Olivia, haven't you?
For prostitution.
And that's what you were doing
this evening when we picked you up.
The fines get worse the more
you deny it. You know they do.
You've got two kids at home
- it says so on here.
So the more you sit
there not saying owt,
the more the food's
coming off their table.
Doesn't it?
Doesn't it?
Start by saying your name.
You know my name.
Nice and clearly, so PC
Small here can write it down.
"My name is Olivia Reivers." Go on.
My name is Olivia Reivers.
"I am a prostitute."
I'm a prostitute.
"And I am guilty, yet again
guilty, of picking up a punter,
this time on the evening
of January 2nd 1981."
Go on, you tell the story.
- Got picked up this evening.
- For sex. Go on.
For sex.
£10.
Got in his car, parked up.
But that were it.
Then that's when you came along.
Right.
Thank you.
Right, if you just sign
here, I'll let you go.
You'll get a court date through.
It'll likely mean another fine.
More severe this time
because it's repeat offences, you see.
This is just what happens
when you can't leave it alone.
What about this bloke who picked you up?
His car number plates weren't
registered in his name.
What's that got to do with me?
Well, you've never met him,
or he's not a regular, or ?
I've no idea who he is.
He's just some
just some ordinary guy.
Mm.
You've given your name as John Williams
of Canklow, Rotherham.
There is no John Williams
of Canklow, Rotherham.
So, come on. What's your real name?
Sutcliffe. Peter William Sutcliffe.
- From?
- Garden Lane, Heaton.
Bradford?
Aye.
Now, is that your real name and
address, or are those more lies?
No, no. You can check that.
So why lie the first time, Peter?
I said a fake name because I panicked.
I regret that now. I
should never have done it.
Those plates on your car, they
don't belong to you, do they?
You stole them. Why?
Didn't want people seeing
you in red light areas.
It's not against the law
to go in t'red light area.
- We're not saying it is.
- It's whores who are criminals.
We're not saying otherwise.
We're asking why you'd be
driving about with stolen plates.
So you're admitting that
you stole them, then?
So, you've got that now?
Sorry?
I've admitted that, so you
can charge me and let me go.
Well, what's the big hurry, Peter?
I just wanna get back. That's all.
To Bradford?
Yeah, to Bradford, aye.
A lot of this Ripper business,
that's been up Bradford way, hasn't it?
Leach.
Was that her name?
The student. She were Bradford.
You ever been questioned
about the Ripper, Peter?
What's so funny about that?
Look at me.
Have you been questioned or not?
Everybody has.
- This one, is it?
- It's that one there.
Right.
DC Nunn.
Where?
Well, I doubt it. He's
never done Sheffield.
What accent's he got?
At one in t'morning? You've no chance.
No, there's nobody else here,
and if there were, they'd
tell you the same bloody thing.
Well, bail him, then.
Leeds won't send anyone.
They're saying it's too late.
So they're happy to bail him?
Well, we can't keep him overnight,
Des. Not on stolen plates.
Especially if he's admitted it.
Well, that wouldn't be the
reason we're holding him.
That'd be the excuse.
We should follow their advice.
Bob's right, sir.
If Leeds aren't bothered,
why should we be?
Because we're here, and we can feel it.
We can feel that something ain't right.
I thought you were off home.
Is it just me or is
the car parked wrong?
Punters usually park
pointing away from the road
to stop people seeing in when
they're doing the business.
He were facing out. Do you remember?
- Like he wanted a quick getaway.
- Maybe.
Or he weren't wanting sex.
So if he weren't wanting
sex, what were he gonna do?
- But what with?
- Sorry?
Well if he's t'Ripper,
he'd have had weapons on him,
a hammer and
But we searched him, searched
his car. He never had owt.
Bob.
Yeah, that's fine.
OK, yep, checking for you now.
Thanks. Bye.
Ford Corsair.
Look.
God, Sue.
I'll get the others.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Sue?
Sue.
What's happening?
Have they Have they got him?
Think so.
Right, so, they've kept him
in, this fella, overnight.
So, what they're saying is
one of the coppers went back,
had a look down by the side
of these bins, you know,
where they've nicked him, and
that's where they've found it.
Found what?
Hammer and knife. Kitchen
knife, same as he used on Rytka.
- Fucking 'ell.
- Phone Sheffield.
Tell 'em I want that scene sterile.
No more coppers tramping
about and toing and froing.
Well, no, look, to be fair,
they did find the weapons.
There's nothing to link the
weapons to him, is there?
not unless there's
prints. Are there prints?
- Well, I mean, we've gotta wait.
- So where is he now?
Well, they're bringing
him to West Yorkshire
so we can take over.
All right. And these are his details?
Yeah.
Get me George Oldfield.
Now, come on, what is it?
Hm? This is everything
we've worked towards.
This is him.
Grange Moor.
George. Yeah they
think they've got him.
His name's Peter
Sutcliffe. Lorry driver.
They're getting him back to
West Yorkshire as we speak.
- We've been here before, Dick.
- Yeah, I know.
You have to be absolutely sure.
Agreed, but I'll get on it.
Mrs Peter Sutcliffe?
Can we have a word?
Mrs Sutcliffe, your husband
is in police custody.
He was brought in last
night in Sheffield,
being transferred as we speak.
OK, listen love.
I've got half the detectives
in the north of England
saying that your Peter
is The Yorkshire Ripper -
minds made up.
So if there's anything you wanna
tell me that might dissuade them
from that opinion, anything at
all, this is the time to say it.
Do you mind if we ask a few questions?
Just some specifics.
Would that be all right, Sonia?
Do you mind if I call you Sonia?
Sonia, I have a list of dates,
so if you can think of
any way to demonstrate
He would've been at work.
- Sorry?
- Or he was with me.
But Mrs Sutcliffe, I haven't
asked you the dates yet.
30th of the 10th, 1975. Now,
we know that's five years ago.
It's vitally important that we
know the whereabouts of Peter.
- Sonia, this is really
- John.
There's one missing.
I'll call Millgarth.
His name's in nominal three times,
his car's in vehicle multiple times,
and he's listed in
triple-area sightings
We did our bit, you know?
If it's him, then everything were
logged and in the right places.
It's all we could do.
But if we did that, then
they must've been out.
They must've interviewed him
already. They must've done.
They did more than once.
Far too many people
stood around doing nothing
when there's plenty of work to be done.
So get on with it now!
- Have they asked you back in?
- No, but they will do.
They won't want me sitting round
here doing bugger all, will they?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
I will call you.
Move!
The press are outside already.
I'm speaking to them shortly.
Yeah, I was just saying that
he's coughed up, he's confessed
about ten minutes ago.
He's admitted everything.
He's admitted McCann,
Jackson, Richardson.
He's even admitted to doing
another one after Barbara Leach.
Now, apparently, he said that
he were hoping to get bail.
He said he were gonna get a cab
to Sheffield, pick up them weapons,
then he'd be in the clear.
He He said all that? What,
just to two bobbies in Sheffield?
Well, he wants it all off his chest.
He said things about the Hill murder
that only the killer could know.
He said things well,
that nobody ever should know.
Well, let's have it.
Is he a Geordie?
He's from Bradford.
But his voice, Jim.
Does he sound like a Geordie?
He sounds like he's from Bradford.
- Hello. Afternoon.
- All right.
George.
We have, this afternoon,
in this very building,
detained a man on
several counts of murder.
We are questioning him in
relation to The Ripper murders.
It is expected that he will
appear before the court tomorrow.
Is it fair to say, then,
that the hunt for The Ripper is over?
That's right.
So, have you got any
information on the man?
Not at this stage.
Can you tell us if he's
got a Geordie accent?
I cannot tell you that because
I've not heard him speak.
Can you give us any details at all?
I can tell you that we are
absolutely delighted with
developments at this stage.
Absolutely delighted.
Now, please, gents.
Smile for the camera.
Really delighted.
Give us a smile, George!
And George is delighted, as well.
Are you delighted, George?
Give us a smile, George!
Absolutely delighted.
The time is twenty past six.
The headlines again.
Peter Sutcliffe, the man who became
known as The Yorkshire Ripper,
was today sentenced at the Old Bailey
to life imprisonment for
the murder of 13 women.
A lorry driver from Bradford,
Sutcliffe was a man so unremarkable
that for five years, he was
able to elude the biggest manhunt
in criminal history.
During that time, he roamed
freely across the north of England,
attacking and murdering
women indiscriminately.
The judge, Mr Justice Boreham,
described Sutcliffe as
an unusually dangerous
You've seen it all?
That he admitted to it?
Attacking you.
So, now the trial's finished, I
was thinking we could get started.
We can get that compensation.
They've said it's gonna be
another couple of minutes
before they come live
to us here in the studio.
A make-up woman's coming.
Why would I need make up
for a programme like this?
Let's see this opening. Erm,
"Trial of the century "
I'll make us a tea.
"Crime of the century" or
"Trial of the century", Tony?
I think I can say both, don't you?
- Yeah, sure.
- Shall we try that?
- You happy?
- Yeah, I think it might be a bit stronger.
Yeah, trial and crime. Can
you put that on the, erm
Put that on the autocue, and
I'll see what that sounds like.
- Going live in five.
- Great, thank you.
The crime and the trial
of the century is over.
The Yorkshire Ripper has
been given a life sentence,
and a five-year manhunt is finished.
Yep, I think that's
Yeah, I think that's better.
We'll go for that. It's stronger.
Er, it's a stronger opening.
Don't be nervous, now.
Just remember to say the
things we spoke about.
We've been through
them a thousand times.
The crime and trial
of the century is over.
The Yorkshire Ripper has
been given a life sentence,
and a five-year manhunt is finished.
But the questions raised
by that manhunt remain.
How efficient was the hunt
for The Yorkshire Ripper?
Ronald Gregory is the chief
constable of West Yorkshire Police.
Irene MacDonald is the
mother of Jayne MacDonald,
murdered by The Ripper in 1977.
And she very bravely has agreed to
join us tonight in our Leeds studio.
Ken Dwyer is a journalist who's
been following the investigation
from the very beginning,
and his book on the case
is now being rushed into print.
Another parent, Mrs Doreen Hill,
is the mother of Jacqueline,
The Ripper's last victim.
She understandably cannot face
the prospect of visiting Leeds
after what has happened,
and so joins us from one
of our London studios.
Chief Constable,
was any wild goose chase more wild
than that which led the police
to concentrate all its attention
on the voice recording?
And the fact that you
instructed your men
to discount anyone who
didn't have a Geordie accent.
That's not
Thus allowing The Ripper, who
didn't have a Geordie accent,
to go free for that much longer.
No, that's not true. You see,
that's a miss-statement immediately.
We did not reject anyone who
did not have a Geordie accent.
The decision on the tape was taken
after very careful consideration
because the senior investigating
officers were in a dilemma.
Had they chosen not to reveal the tape,
they may have faced
much worse criticism.
So when they did reveal
it, they had to be positive.
"They."
But at no time was that the
only point of elimination.
But you were eliminating people
who didn't have a Wearside accent.
No, not solely on that.
Mrs Hill, do you now feel able to say,
"It's over, I have no
more recriminations?"
There are aspects that
I'm not happy about.
The handbag was found
on the Monday evening.
But no-one bothered
to look for its owner.
When the detectives went
to Jacqueline's body,
they knew nothing at
all about that handbag.
Could Mr Gregory clarify that?
Mr Gregory?
I can't remember exactly.
I know the handbag had been found.
But I cannot say with any accuracy
whether the detectives
knew about it at the time.
Mrs Hill, would you welcome an inquiry
into the way the police
conducted the investigation?
Yes, I would.
If there's going to be an
inquiry, can I see the report?
Would Mrs Hill be entitled
to see that report?
If Mrs Hill is dissatisfied with
any aspect of the investigation,
if she'd like to come
and see us at any time,
we could explain to her
exactly what happened.
Can I ask a simple question? No
doubt you'll tell me I'm wrong.
But could you not
have done that earlier?
Sent for Mrs Hill and Mrs MacDonald here
and invited them in and
set their minds at rest?
Well, I don't know what they
want to be reassured about.
This is the first I've heard of it.
Really, Chief Constable?
You see no error
in the five-and-a-half-years
investigation?
Oh, there may have been
errors. We are not infallible.
But you are not informed
of what the police did.
I am informed about what you didn't do,
and that's catch Peter Sutcliffe.
Oh, I'm aware of that.
That's pretty obvious.
Though I'm glad that you
welcome a public inquiry.
No, I didn't say that.
I would not resent an inquiry,
but who did the inquiry and how it
was conducted would be important.
You see, the public
and so many commentators
have criticised the police
when they have not been privy
to all that the police have done.
Until they are, they should
reserve judgement and criticism.
Well, we are grateful to everyone
who's taken part in
tonight's discussion,
but we're particularly mindful
of the courage it must have taken
for both Mrs MacDonald and Mrs
Hill to speak out in public tonight.
Our thoughts must be with them
and with all the other relatives
of the Ripper's victims.
From Leeds, good night.
Everybody stay seated.
Nice and still while the credits roll.
OK, thanks everyone.
We're just waiting to
hear from the gallery
in case there's anything to pick up.
What about the accent?
What about the fact that
our daughter was told
that men in Yorkshire were safe?
And why did they call him The Ripper?
He said it over and
over on TV, "The Ripper".
Like that's his name.
- That's just what they say, love.
- No.
That's what people used to say
when they didn't know who he was.
When they didn't know his name.
But now they know his
name, why don't they use it?
Why do they have to
say that wretched word?
I'll get someone to take that thing off.
"As Police Constable Andrew Laptew
sat in Sutcliffe's modestly
furnished living room in Bradford,
he realised that everything
the police knew about The Ripper
fitted the man he was questioning.
He became convinced
Sutcliffe was The Ripper.
He submitted a report saying as much
to The Ripper headquarters in Leeds."
- Everything just "fitted", did it?
- It's not how it looks.
Did everything just fall into
place for Sherlock fucking Holmes?
- How much they pay you?
- They didn't.
- No? So why go round there?
- I didn't.
To cover his arse.
He met Sutcliffe,
and then all he did was hand
in some shitty bit of paper,
and that's it.
Three more lasses get butchered,
and he's got to live with that then,
the fact that he never followed up.
- And that is why he called 'em.
- Not true, sir.
Make it known that it wasn't his fault.
A journalist knocked on my door.
He'd heard I'd put a report in.
- Said he'd got a tip.
- A tip-off? From who?
No idea. But I said nothing.
- Is someone trying to protect you?
- Read the article.
- 'Cos you went round there
- You'll find no quotes
Sat there and had a cup of tea
with him in his front fucking room.
- I weren't the only one.
- Sorry?
He'd been interviewed nine times.
Nine?
That's what they're saying.
T'lasses in t'incident room.
So what does it matter who
spoke to what journalist,
when nine times we went round
there, and nine times we failed?
Just like you failed when
I handed you that report
- 'cos you were blinded by that tape, by that stupid accent.
- Careful.
It's not me that's got to live with it,
with them three dead
girls, it's all of us.
But it is you and Oldfield the most.
You watch your fucking mouth.
I want to create a
substantial new role for you.
A role befitting of an
experienced chap like you, George.
Chief of Operational Support.
Running the engine room, for
the whole of West Yorkshire.
To oversee the policing of all vehicles
and road-based transport in
our portion of the county.
Traffic.
To oversee the safekeeping of
criminal records and documentation.
The library.
And a full oversight of frogmen,
police dogs and police horses.
- Animals.
- Frogmen aren't animals, George.
They just have an animal in their name.
Well, I won't do it.
I'm not going from Head of CID
to running the police farmyard.
People'll think I've been fired.
There's shit coming
down the line, George.
And before I retire, I want to
make sure that you are protected.
We attribute it to your health.
Needn't be a reflection
of you and your team.
What about Dick?
I'll find something for Dick.
Oh, well
you know, if there's
shit coming down the line,
then you put as many people in
the way of it as you can, eh?
Don't hold back.
Oh, Margaret wanted to know
if those gifts had arrived.
For Grace's birthday.
Oh, I don't know, George.
That's very kind of her. I shall ask.
Well, she's good like that, my wife.
Considerate.
- Mr Byford, Mr Nevill.
- Morning.
If you want to follow me,
I can show you upstairs?
- Thank you.
- Yep.
You are a bit earlier than we expected,
but, er, we're nearly ready.
This is Mr Byford,
- he'll be doing the official inquiry.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Sir.
Did you ladies work on the inquiry,
or are you just packing things up?
We did our share, sir.
Mr Byford requested you draw
all accounts from your system
that might relate to Sutcliffe.
Vehicles, Photofits, anything
you might think relevant.
Yes, sir. Follow me.
Statements, sightings,
any other paperwork, we've boxed
up and we've put in this office
'cos, well, it's more private in here.
These Photofits go back from 1972.
These are from the women who survived.
The women he attacked
or followed or chased.
The ones he left for dead.
These are what they said they saw.
But not all of the women were believed.
And these two photos, sir,
these are of Sutcliffe himself.
Er, this one from January.
And this one from when
he was arrested in '69.
Arrested in '69?
For going equipped.
He was caught, late at
night, carrying a hammer.
That's when he started.
Richard McCann?
Is this about our Sonia?
What's she done now?
She only left the
house about an hour ago.
Are you the son of Wilma McCann?
I'm Detective Chief
Superintendent Chris Gregg.
I was a young detective on
the Peter Sutcliffe case.
Sorry, but what's this ?
Because I find these things
Can I come in?
I've been visiting all the next of kin,
those related to the victims,
as we've had a development.
A few years ago, we arrested a
man for being drunk and disorderly.
As a result of his conviction,
he had to provide us with a DNA sample
for the National Database.
Because I'm now Chief Super,
and because this case
really matters to me,
I make sure to run DNA tests
every few years, you see.
Tests on what?
On the man who wrote the letters.
There were never any
prints, but recently,
we found DNA where he
licked the envelope.
So two weeks ago, we ran the tests,
and we found a direct match
with the man who we'd arrested
for being drunk and disorderly.
That man
is the man on the tape.
The man
The man who sent the tape.
He's owned up to it.
Said that it was him,
that he regrets it,
the damage that he's caused
Wait. No, no, no. I, er
I need to hear him. Hear his voice.
I-I need to Is there
any way that you ?
Yeah, that's one of
the reasons I'm here.
- Do you mind if I use your DVD player?
- No.
It's just to show you,
like I'm showing all the
other friends and family.
But only if it'll
help. You don't have to.
His name is John Humble.
He's from Sunderland.
We had him read out the letters
in case he later
withdrew his confession.
We've got a transcript here.
Would you read that for
us please, John? Back in
That's if I can see it. My
eyes are a bit dodgy, you know.
Take your time.
"I'm Jack.
I see you are still
having no luck 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.
They can't be much good, can they?
The only time they came near "
That's him.
The voice.
The man who killed Mum.
No, no.
- He's just the man who
- No, no
Maybe not for you, but for me.
D'you know, when they first
caught Sutcliffe, no-one bothered.
They were busy patting
each other on the back,
but no-one actually came to
tell me and Sonia, so thank you.
Why
did he do that? Why
did he send the tape?
- You must have asked him.
- Yeah.
And ?
Notoriety.
And everything he said on the tape,
every word and every detail that
he put down in those letters,
it was all there in the papers already.
It was all there for him
to read and write down
and pass off as his own.
And my predecessors, they
never worked that out.
And, erm you know
I only wish they had.
Hello, mate.
People often ask me
"how you do you even begin to
get over something like that?"
And, erm, "What it's
like, being a survivor?"
We're not survivors. We're surviving.
It's a, er What do you call it?
A work in progress.
We're managing.
The good days
and the bad days.
And, erm
the best we can hope for
is that very rare thing.
The odd day, when you're working
I'm a motivational speaker these days.
But whatever it might be, when
when it doesn't cross your mind.
Or at least you think it doesn't, and
till right before bedtime,
when it pops into your
head, and you think
"Oh, God I nearly made it through."
Sorry.
Our mum were never a prostitute.
Yes, she liked a drink, and-and
yes, she had boyfriends.
She-she probably got up to all sorts.
The point is, the police
never bothered to check.
Those men in charge,
they were more fixed on
finding out who he was.
They never even bothered
to find out who Mum was.
And it was the same
for the rest of them.
The police, they showed up,
and they saw a crime scene,
and they saw a victim.
But what very few of them ever
actually saw were the women.
And that's what's important now.
We want to make those women visible.
We want to see 'em in colour.
We want to bring them out of
that that same long shadow.