At the beginning of 2016 Detective Chief Inspector James Dunkerley was leading a little-publicised investigation into a number of unsolved murders and assaults that may have been committed by Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.

The investigation was called "Operation Painthall".

PC Robert Hydes was a probationary constable based at the Hammerton Road police station in Sheffield. On the evening of Friday 2nd January 1981, PC Hydes was on duty with Sergeant Ring when they came across a Rover car parked in the driveway of the Light Trades House in Sheffield.

On Friday 2nd January 1981, Sergeant Robert Ring was on night duty with probationer constable PC Robert Hydes when they spotted a car in the driveway of the Light Trades House in Sheffield. Sutcliffe was in the car with prostitute Olivia Reivers who was well known to the police.

Detective Superintendent Findlay took charge of the Jacqueline Hill inquiry and established an incident room at Belle Vue, Leeds.

On the 23rd October 1979 Sutcliffe was interviewed again, on this occasion by Detective Constables Vickerman and Eland who were investigating the murder of Barbara Leach.

On the 23rd October 1979 Sutcliffe was interviewed again, on this occasion by Detective Constables Vickerman and Eland who were investigating the murder of Barbara Leach.

Detective Constables Andrew Laptew and Graham Greenwood visited him at his home. It is unfortunate that they were not aware that Sutcliffe had already been interviewed in connection with the £5 note inquiry and also in connection with the "Double Sighting" of his earlier vehicle.

On the 29th July 1979 Sutcliffe was again interviewed after his black Sunbeam Rapier had been printed out, first as a “Double Area Sighting” and later as a “Triple Area Sighting”, having been seen in the "red light" areas of Leeds, Bradford and Manchester.

Detective Constable Peter Smith of the West Yorkshire Police, who knew that Sutcliffe had been seen during the £5 note inquiry, visited him at his home in Garden Lane, Heaton, Bradford.

Detective Superintendent Slater was later to take command of the investigation. Their report was submitted to the Chief Constable in December 1979.