Did Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, attack John Tomey?

On Wednesday, 22 March 1967, taxi driver John Tomey picked up a passenger in Leeds City Centre. The passenger was said to be wearing a zipped beige-coloured jacket, jeans and a green and white college scarf.

Mr Tomey said that his passenger had dark hair, a moustache and a beard and that he was definitely a local man.

Mr Tomey recalls the passenger requesting to go Bradford first, but then changing his mind and asking to be taken to Bingley.

John Tomey found himself lost on Cockhill Moor. As he stopped to consult his map the passenger attacked him with a hammer. Mr Tomey lost consciousness for a short period but noticed the passenger trying to open the driver's door. He managed to drive off in the car.

Mr Tomey stopped at a cottage and asked the occupier to call the police.

Mt Tomey's injuries would mean that he would never drive his taxi again. His skull had ben severely fractured.

Mr Tomey's attack was only linked to the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, in 1981.

Peter Sutcliffe has denied ever attacking or killing any men. Sutcliffe denies attacking John Tomey and Fred Craven.

Mr Tomey is 100% certain that Sutcliffe was his attacker and said the following in an article with the Daily Mirror:

“I’ve come through bloody hell and I want to see him and ask, ‘Why me?’

“He will decline because he’s such a coward. I’m sure of it. But before we die, I’d like to come face-to-face with him.

“He just wants to torture me by denying this. I know he was my attacker.”

Ex-police intelligence officer Chris Clark believes that Sutcliffe attacked John Tomey as well as three other men.

Mr Clark thinks Sutcliffe killed bookmaker Fred Craven in 1966, filling station worker Gordon Snowdon in 1979, and cemetery gardener George Ellis in 1967.

Mr Clark explains more in his book:  Yorkshire Ripper - The Secret Murders by John Blake Publishing.