A man who claims he was the Yorkshire Ripper's first victim has vowed to continue his fight for compensation, 35 years after the attack.

John Tomey hopes to find the family who helped him after he was attacked on the moors above Keighley in 1967.

The former taxi driver's campaign has so far faltered because vital medical and legal evidence has been destroyed.

Mr Tomey received £300 compensation after the attack -- enough to buy a car at the time -- but believes he should now get a further payment.

The 58-year-old Leeds man said: "I have lost 90 per cent of my life and memory. I haven't worked for 30 years. I lost my life."

Mr Tomey was battered over the head by a passenger who lured him to Cockhill Moor, above Oxenhope.

The attacker was never found, but several years later Mr Tomey came to believe the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, was responsible. He said: "He hit me with a hammer. When I saw the pictures of Sutcliffe I had no doubt it was him who attacked me.

"If the Yorkshire police had found the man that hit me over the head he would not have been able to murder 13 women."

Mr Tomey claims a senior detective had earlier passed on details of his assault to the Ripper squad because of similarities with the attacks on Sutcliffe's female victims. Mr Tomey three years ago approached the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for financial support.

He said: "The compensation board won't deal with me. They won't open the case without proof of what went on."

Mr Tomey said documentation about the assault -- including medical evidence -- was destroyed by his mother after his father died several years ago. He believes information from people living on Cockhill in 1967 could help him force the compensation board to rethink its position.

Mr Tomey claims that after he had been attacked, he staggered to two houses on separate parts of the moors in search of help.

Nobody answered the door at the first cottage, but Mr Tomey remembers dripping blood on milk bottles on the doorstep.

Mr Tomey said: "A man came to the door at the second house. There were little children on the staircase, and a woman came down. She asked if I wanted a cup of tea and her husband went next door to telephone for an ambulance."

The Ripper murdered 13 women, mostly prostitutes or students, across West Yorkshire over a six-year period.

In his trial at the Old Bailey, he also admitted seven charges of attempted murder and was jailed for a minimum of 30 years. The first victim was thought to be Anna Rogulski, who was left battered and bleeding in North Queen Street, Keighley, in July, 1975.

The next month came an attack on Silsden teenager Caroline Tracy Browne, who was attacked while walking.

Anyone who remembers Mr Tomey calling at their door, or finding blood on their doorstep on March 23, 1967, can telephone him on 0113 217 8249.