George Oldfield & Dr Shaw consider Ripper's syphilis and schizophrenia theories

During late 1978 Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield had assembled a number of theories about Peter Sutcliffe, The Yorkshire Ripper.

Assistant Chief Constable Oldfield consulted Dr Stephen Shaw, a psychiatrist at Stanley Royd Hospital in Wakefield. Oldfield had considered the notion that the Ripper might be suffering from general paralysis of the insane (GPI) - the third and invariably final stage of syphilis infection. Oldfield wondered if Sutcliffe had contracted the disease from a prostitute, and that this might explain his desire to kill them.

Dr Shaw indicated that GPI was a highly unlikely diagnosis, since sufferers usually experienced symptoms of dementia which is not consistent with being able to undertake a prolonged and remarkably cunning series of murders.

Dr Shaw also dismissed Oldfield's alternative theory of schizophrenia. If the Ripper was a schizophrenic, his behaviour would have attracted attention, and he would almost certainly be receiving some form of medical treatment as a result.