THE son of the first Yorkshire Ripper victim says he hopes a new drama series on Peter Sutcliffe will be dealt with sensitively.

Richard McCann, who was five when his mother Wilma was murdered by Sutcliffe in Leeds on October 30, 1975, says he will watch the forthcoming ITV drama series.

The six-part series will depict the hunt for Bingley-born Peter Sutcliffe, which began in 1975, lasted several years and involved more than 1,000 officers.

Between 1975 and 1980, the Yorkshire Ripper, as he became known and worked as a lorry driver in Bradford, murdered at least 13 women and attempted to kill seven others, while narrowly evading capture time and again.

Sutcliffe, now 74, is serving 20 life terms for murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more. Most of his victims were sex workers who were mutilated and beaten to death.

The commission follows the success of its other true-crime TV dramas Des and White House Farm.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Peter Sutcliffe's life will be turned into a six-art ITV drama series Peter Sutcliffe's life will be turned into a six-art ITV drama series

The Yorkshire Ripper (the working title) will draw upon hundreds of case files, interview transcripts and police reports in an investigation archive. Mr McCann says he has an issue with the programme's working title as it uses Sutcliffe's nickname.

Mr McCann said: "I would hope it will be dealt with in a sensitive manner.

"From what I have read, it will have the victims and their families at the centre of it. That is pleasing.

"It depends on how it is made. I will watch it. I'm hoping it will be done well, because I have that personal connection to it.

"I watched Des and I found that very compelling.

"I used to get really frustrated with the mention of him (Sutcliffe). The anger that I used to have with seeing stories or TV shows about him left me years ago.

"It does not cause me an issue if it is done really well.

"To call it the Yorkshire Ripper, that I don't like, because Sutcliffe used to cut his victims. That's the only issue I have with it.

"It was a massive case and I understand why there is interest in it. I understand. I get it. It's been done before. We are talking 45 years ago now. A lot of time has passed.

"Personally speaking, I have come to terms with it."