Inquest hears Covid played part in death

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Peter Sutcliffe died from a combination of Covid-19, diabetes and heart disease, an inquest has heard.

The coroner began the hearing on Friday by remembering all the women known to have been attacked by Sutcliffe.

Assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington Crispin Oliver heard how Sutcliffe had a number of underlying health conditions which left him almost blind and needing to use a wheelchair.

He had also had a pacemaker fitted.

Mr Oliver read out the names of all 13 women Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering plus others he is known to have attacked.

A coroner’s officer confirmed a post-mortem examination showed the 74-year-old died from Sars-CoV-2 pneumonia, diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.

She clarified that Sars-CoV-2 is Covid-19. Sutcliffe died a week ago after reportedly refusing treatment for coronavirus.

Sutcliffe was serving a whole life term for the murders of 13 women and the attempted murder of seven more.

He was an inmate of the maximum security Frankland jail and died at the nearby University Hospital of North Durham on November 13.

Detective Inspector Claire Lambert, from Durham Constabulary, told the hearing at Crook Civic Centre there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

The inquest was adjourned until February 1 for a mention hearing.