SUTCLIFFE always insisted that he killed because a voice in his head told him to.

       He was -convinced it was from God.

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       Sutcliffe always insisted that he killed because a voice in his head told him to Credit: Enterprise 8

       Sutcliffe said: 'The voice gives me advice. It interferes with you all the time, it’s -telling you things that you’ve got to do, instructions' Credit: Ian Whittaker

       But what exactly was “the voice”? What did it sound like and what did it say?

       He explained: “The voice can also come and talk to me about everyday routine things.

       “I might be trying to think of doing something and then all of a sudden the voice will say, ‘what about this’ or ‘have you thought about？.？.？.’

       "I know it’s me thinking these thoughts, but it is a voice that gives me the answer, it tells me what I need to know.

       “The voice gives me advice.

       "It interferes with you all the time, it’s -telling you things that you’ve got to do, instructions.

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       “And you can’t shut it out, can’t block your ears.

       "It knew it wasn’t appropriate to give me these messages regularly when I was driving the truck.

       “But even though I believed what I believed at the time I still was in kind of awe of it, sort of dread, because I was half expecting what it was gonna be saying.

       "You can’t shut it up.”

       Sutcliffe revealed that he would often hear the voice for a couple of days ahead of an attack.

       Other times it might be just a few hours.

       He explained: “It was usually similar in that it could be two or three days before an attack.

       "It was a steady build-up and then I did the attack.

       Once I had killed, that was it – it was a release from the pressure, it was over.

       Peter Sutcliffe

       “But it can sometimes be over a couple of hours. It can be that quick.

       “I might have been hearing the voices for a few days, but once it felt like I was primed I couldn’t stop myself.

       “When it started escalating, at the start I could stop myself, but after a while I couldn’t stop myself.

       “I couldn’t fight it.

       "Once I had killed, that was it – it was a release from the pressure, it was over.

       “I knew what I was doing, it was controlled, there were only a couple of times when it wasn’t.

       “When I wasn’t fully primed for the mission, I got really angry at what I had to do.

       “It is a clear voice, I know it’s in my head, but it is a clear voice.

       The voice gives me advice. It interferes with you all the time, it’s -telling you things that you’ve got to do, instructions.

       Peter Sutcliffe

       “It’s a male, authoritative voice.

       "It seemed to come from things, trees, walls.

       “It’s not like anyone I’ve ever known.

       "It doesn’t remind me of my dad or anyone else I can pinpoint.”

       Sutcliffe told how on one occasion he disobeyed the voice and refused to carry out an attack.

       He said: “I was on my way to Leeds and I were changing up and down the gears, arguing with God.

       “I went faster and slower, and I managed to turn round and go back, and he said, ‘I know that I can see you’re not ready’, because I used to have to be primed up to it.

       “I went back home and I was so relieved when I got back home when I’d not gone through with it.

       I didn’t know it was schizophrenia, I didn’t know what it was, I just thought it was a miracle.

       Peter Sutcliffe

       “I didn’t know it was schizophrenia, I didn’t know what it was, I just thought it was a miracle.

       “I didn’t know best, but I believed I did.

       "That was the -dangerous thing about me, believing what was happening to me was a miracle – divinely inspired.

       “At the beginning I could fight against it. I could try and stop myself from doing what I was going to be doing.

       “But as time went on it was harder and harder to fight the urge and I couldn’t stop myself.”

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       Killer Sutcliffe at the wheel of his lorry Credit: Rex 8

       Sutcliffe on his wedding day Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty 8

       Sutcliffe with wife Sonia in the 1970s 8

       Sutcliffe's first victim was Wilma McCann, 28 Credit: Collect 8

       Leeds university student Jacqueline Hill, 20, was Sutcliffe's 13th and final known victim - ending half a decade of terror Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 8

       I’m The Yorkshire Ripper, by Robin Perrie and Alfie James, is published by Mirror Books on March 3, priced ￡8.99. Also available in ebook