FORMER West Yorkshire Chief Constable Ronald Gregory has died, aged 88.

He led the force from 1969 for 14 years, in a police career which spanned 42 years.

But he will always be remembered for the criticism over the investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper murders.

Mr Gregory and senior officers were severely criticised for failing to trap Peter Sutcliffe, as the former lorry driver killed 13 women and attacked seven others.

An inquiry into the investigation revealed Sutcliffe had been interviewed nine times and that vital clues were missed.

Mr Gregory later wrote: “The Ripper is a thorn in my career.”

He was also criticised for his decision after his retirement to sell his memoirs to a national newspaper for a reported £40,000. Relatives of Sutcliffe’s victims branded it “blood money”.