The grave of Helen Rytka, murdered by Sutcliffe, restored

Helen Rytka was just 18 when she was bludgeoned to death with a hammer by Sutcliffe in Huddersfield.

She is buried at Bradford’s Scholemoor Cemetery, but her grave was described as unkempt, with her name faded and barely visible.

That was until Andy Murphy, who lives close to the cemetery, arrived with a new wooden plaque and decorated the grave with pebbles and a candle.

“It’s a sad story. If Helen’s grave was left any longer, nobody would have even known who was buried there,” said Andy, who is originally from Sunderland and now heads up Bradford animal charity Murphy’s Army.

“I felt like I had to do something.”

Andy with his dog, Murphy, who his charity is named after (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Riaz Ahmed, who runs the growing YouTube channel Bradford Through the Lens, played a big part in the restoration.

The 55-year-old – who works alongside friend Imtiaz Sabir and local historians Mark Nicholson and Andrew Bolt – captured Helen’s grave on camera in a video posted last year.

Andy saw the video, which inspired him to take action – something Riaz said demonstrates the power of social media.

“It’s amazing, it just shows that where there’s a will, there’s a way,” said Riaz, who is from the Toller Lane area.

“It restores your faith in humanity. It’s not all doom and gloom.”

Riaz Ahmed (Image: Bradford Through the Lens)

Helen had been working as sex worker and was reported missing by Rita, her identical twin sister.

She was from Bradford and had moved to Huddersfield two months previously – ironically to get away from Sutcliffe, who had already begun his killing spree.

Sutcliffe hit Helen over the head with a hammer and stabbed her several times.

“I’d have given it another year, and Helen’s name would have disappeared from the grave, that’s how bad of a state it was in,” said Riaz.

Andy works at Knightsbridge Furniture on Thornton Road, where he also supports local homeless charities.

“We got some spare oak and carved Helen’s name on it. We made her grave look presentable, it’s not much, but it’s something we wanted to do,” he said.

He added that Helen’s family got wind of his work and have since reached out.

“I don’t know anything about her family, but they said that what I’ve done was kind, and now they want to meet,” he said.

“Her grave is on my doorstep, so I had to do something.”