Between 1971 & 1992 Lancashire was rocked by a succession of female murders. The largest manhunt in criminal history was launched with the help of five police forces, despite this every lead yielded no results. For 20 years a murderer remained at large with the killing spree seemingly ending in 1991.

Following the discovery of a body in 2023 with all the hallmarks of the Lancashire Ripper and after almost 30 years without justice, a roadside stop in 2023 lead to a break through in the case. Decades of police work and advancements in science & evidence preservation have identified Martin Shuttington as a likely suspect.

He was arrested and charged with the murders of Deborah Walker, Susan Flemming, Rita Lola, Marie Baker, Jackie Moore and Susan Hartley between 1971 & 1992 and Leoni Dews in 2023.

The post-mortem is telling and the forensics are strong, but with so much time passed, is Martin Shuttington the infamous Lancashire Ripper, a copycat killer or just the wrong man.

The police have charged him with murder and he awaits his trial.

Innocent or guilty? You decide…