The father of Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe has admitted: 'My son should have hanged'.

John Sutcliffe, 75, pictured, reveals in a TV documentary screened tomorrow that he no longer visits his son who is caged for life at Broadmoor top security hospital for the murder of 13 women and the attempted murder of seven more.

He tells the programme 'Killer in the Family' of his continuing love for his son who he talks to every fortnight on the telephone.

He also speaks of feelings of guilt, shame and hurt he has dealt with since his life was turned upside down when Sutcliffe, a Bradford lorry driver, was arrested.

And Mr Sutcliffe, who still lives in Bingley, admits at one point: "He deserved to be hanged."

But he goes on to say: "I love that lad. I don't love him for what he's done, I love him for being who he is."

He describes his son as 'introverted' but he is the only one of his six children to keep in regular touch, making small talk on the telephone for 15 minutes every fortnight.

He also talks about the moment he discovered he was the Yorkshire Ripper's father during a tea break at work. He said: "I went into the manager's office and asked if he'd mind if I went home."

But today Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said the programme would do nothing to ease the pain of victims' families.

He said: "Every time this is highlighted it will rake up pain and misery for people that suffered.

"If it was a genuine attempt to get a better understanding of what went on then that's one thing, but I'm not sure there is any benefit to be had from this.

"It's just re-opening wounds. There are lots of people who will never forget but deserve to be left in peace."

Olive Smelt, of Halifax, who survived an attack by Peter Sutcliffe in 1975, said she was not sure if she would watch the programme.

"I try to forget these things and ignore them. I've lived with it all these years - I've had it long enough," she said.

Her husband Harry said it was one of a number of programmes to deal with Sutcliffe.

"They just continue to dig this up. It's water off a duck's back to us," he said.

A BBC spokeswoman said Mr Sutcliffe had not been paid for his interview which was carried out voluntarily following a long period of discussions and persuasion.

He was one of four relatives including Betty Scott, the mother of serial killer Dennis Nilsen, interviewed for the programme which showed 'hidden victims' of murder.

"It's not sensational. It's all about the story of what it was like for them, the effect it has had on their lives and in no way detracts from the hurt and pain suffered by victims' families," she said.

"Both John Sutcliffe and Betty Scott's cases are very well known and in that sense it is another interesting dimension to the story even for anyone who feels they know it.

"It's not about looking at the murderers themselves - there is no dwelling on that or the crimes they committed.

"It's about what it's like to have a member of your family commit these dreadful crimes and the effect it has on the family.

"People often say the father, the mother, the brother or the sister must have known that this was going on but in most cases, people don't."

Sutcliffe was told last year he would stay in Broadmoor despite an attack by fellow prisoner Ian Kay which has left him blind in one eye. His family wanted him closer to home because of problems travelling to the hospital in Berkshire.

The programme is one of a series courting controversy on the Yorkshire Ripper.

A drama documentary on the police investigation will be screened this autumn despite objections from some of his victims and the Sutcliffe family.

'Killer in the Family' is screened on BBC1 at 10pm tomorrow.

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