'Ripper' killer rapist fails in freedom bid

MURDERER WHO DEMONSTRATED ‘NEW LEVEL OF DEPRAVITY’ IS DENIED PAROLE

- DAMON WILKINSON

A TWISTED killer dubbed the ‘Rochdale Ripper’ after he raped and mutilated women during a three-month spate of attacks has been denied parole.

Michael Hardacre is behind bars after he murdered a retired teacher, raped four women and robbed at least six others in the summer of 2000.

After he was sentenced to life in prison at Manchester Crown Court a senior detective described him as the evilest and violent sex offender he had come across in more than 20 years. Judge Michael Sachs told the then 24-year-old he had demonstrated ‘a new level of depravity’ as he passed a sentence of 146 years in jail to run concurrently.