A FRIEND of the Yorkshire Ripper has scattered his ashes in Lanzarote almost two years on from his death.

National newspapers have reported the woman, who regularly visited Peter Sutcliffe in jail, travelled to the island with his ashes in an urn and scattered them in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sutcliffe murdered 13 women and his killing spree, which began in 1975, terrified much of northern England before he was caught in 1980.

The friend, who has not been identified, reportedly made a promise to Sutcliffe to scatter his ashes “somewhere nice and sunny”.

While she acknowledged people would think it “appalling” she said she was “carrying out the wishes of a dying old man”.

The son of Emily Jackson, who was murdered by Sutcliffe in 1976 at the age of 42, told The Sun newspaper it was “shocking and disgusting”.

Neil Jackson said the remains should have been “chucked down a drain or sent to the local Council tip”.

Sutcliffe died aged 74 from Covid-19 at the University Hospital of North Durham at 1.45am on November 13, 2020.

He had been serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland.

Coroner Crispin Oliver said at his inquest last year: “Peter Sutcliffe is now dead, he died a natural death having received good medical care.

“Obviously I think of his family at this time, but (my thoughts) also return to those women whose names I read out at the opening of this inquest last November – they were his victims.

“My continuing best wishes go to their families, loved ones and friends.

“Speaking to the victims’ families, loved ones and friends, I hope you have some sense of closure at this point and that your loved ones, the victims, may better rest in peace now that Peter Sutcliffe is dead.”