As night fell, Peter Sutcliffe made his last delivery of the day, to Kirkstall Forge in Leeds, before returning to Clark's depot at around 7 pm. Instead of heading home, Sutcliffe used a public phone box to tell his wife, Sonia, that he was in Gloucester making a delivery and would not be back until late. 

By 9pm Sutcliffe was sitting in his Rover outside the Arndale Centre. Sutcliffe was sitting in his car outside Kentucky Fried Chicken, eating a takeaway and watching people passing by.