Secondary school pupils received an "inspiring" motivational talk from the son of the Yorkshire Ripper's first victim.

Richard McCann was just five years old when his mum, Wilma, was murdered by Peter Sutcliffe in October, 1975.

The event triggered years of pain for Mr McCann, eventually leading him to prison, drugs and the verge of suicide.

However, aged 38, he is now a best-selling author and much sought-after motivational speaker. As part of a day designed to break down barriers between young people in Bradford, he was invited to speak to more than 100 teenagers at the Norcroft Centre at the city's university.

The Bradford Central schools confederation organised "Making Your Choice - Reaching Your Goals" to promote social cohesion among young people, boost their confidence and allow them to practise the skills necessary to find employment.

Mr McCann said: "One of the important lessons is that no matter what challenges and set-backs you have faced in life you can still achieve what you want to with an "I can" attitude. You have to have the self-belief that you can achieve goals and dreams.

"I came out of prison in 1997 and my houses had been repossessed, my girlfriend had left me, I could not get a job and I almost took my life. At the very last moment I told myself life was worth living."

After finding employment, Richard joined a writers' group and decided to tell the story of his early years. The result was Just A Boy, which knocked Robbie Williams' biography off the top of the best-sellers' list in 2005 and went on to sell 400,000 copies. A follow-up, The Boy Grows Up, also proved successful.

"It took 25 applications to publishers to get my book published," added Mr McCann, who is now married and has two children.

Four weeks ago he suffered another serious setback when his sister, 39-year-old Sonia Newlands, was found dead at her home in Leeds. It is believed she hanged herself.

"When my sister died it brought home to me just how far I had come," he added. "As much as I was devastated, I was quickly able to focus on the positives which are that my sister, who was an alcoholic, is no longer in pain and is with my mother in a safe place."

Mr McCann, who now works for the Youth Offending Service in Leeds, gave pupils a moving insight into his life.

Belle Vue Girls' School pupil Anishah Ahmed, 17, called Mr McCann an "inspiring" figure. "He is a role model for us to follow," she added. "He has been through a lot but has still achieved."

Pupils from Beckfoot, Belle Vue girls' and boys's, Nab Wood, St Bede's and Salt Grammar schools took part in the event alongside others from Feversham, Immanuel, Challenge and Carlton Bolling colleges.

Representatives from employers including HSBC, West Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Water and HM Courts were also on hand to take part in role-playing workshops.

e-mail: dan.webber @bradford.newsquest.co.uk