The outcome of an appeal by Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe over a ruling that he should never be released was due to be announced by the country’s most senior judges today.

The Court of Appeal was expected to announce its decision on a challenge by the former Bradford lorry driver against an order made by a High Court judge last year that he must serve a “whole life” tariff.

Sutcliffe, 64, who now calls himself Peter Coonan – his mother’s maiden name – was convicted at the Old Bailey in 1981.

He received 20 life terms for the murder of 13 women and the attempted murder of others in Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

Sutcliffe is being held in Broadmoor top security psychiatric hospital after being transferred from prison in 1984 suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

Today’s appeal decision was due to be given by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith and Mr Justice Griffith Williams.