YORKSHIRE Ripper hoaxer Wearside Jack has been beaten up three times since coming out of prison, his sister has revealed.

Sunderland labourer John Humble, now 57, was given an eight-year sentence in 2006 for perverting the course of justice.

His letters and tape recording led West Yorkshire detectives hunting the 1970s serial killer to believe the suspect was from Wearside.

More than 40,000 Sunderland men were interviewed but the killer of 13 women turned out to be the Bradford lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe.

In the tape recording to Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield , he said in a thick Wearside accent : “I can’t see meself being nicked just yet… I reckon your boys are letting you down, George. They can’t be much good can they?”

John Humble was released on licence after serving half his sentence and returned to Sunderland.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that he told relatives the hoax started “as a prank – just a bit of fun”.

It says he told his family: “I was young and daft. It was a spur of the moment thing with the first letter, then I got carried away.”

Humble, was caught in 2005 by a DNA sample when police launched a cold case review.

Relatives say the hoax and had a dramatic affect on Humble. One said: “He turned to drink and tried to take his life three times.

“We all wondered what was going on with him. He tried to hang himself but that did not work. He slashed his wrists, but did not go deep enough. Then he threw himself off a bridge – and still survived.”

Humble’s sister Jean, 46, told the Daily Mirror her family had paid a heavy price for his crime.

“We had windows smashed and were abused in the street,’’ she said.

“Even after he got out of prison, he was beaten up three times.”