THE image of Wearside Jack was that of a menacing and mysterious figure.

But yesterday, he was unveiled in court as a hopeless alcoholic who never had any meaningful employment.

John Humble was a heavy-drinking loner who was known by locals as John the Bag because he was always seen with a carrier full of booze.

Humble's barrister, Simon Bourne-Arton, said he would have lived a "spectacularly inadequate life" had it not been for the hoax letters and tape he sent to police.

Mr Bourne-Arton said Humble's sister, Jean, described him as quite bright at school, and he left with a few qualifications. Humble cannot remember what exams he took.

He left school at 16 and became an apprentice to a bricklaying firm. He also worked as a hospital laundry porter, at the Nissan car factory, on Wearside, and as a window cleaner.

Yesterday, it emerged that Humble married in 1990, but his wife, Anne, left him three years ago.

Anne Mason, 54, who now lives in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, admitted that there were tell-tale signs that she failed to see - such as his obsession one night with a documentary about the hoaxer hunt.

As his tape was played on the television, Humble asked her: "Do you think you can recognise who that fella is, pet? I've got a good idea who it is, but the police will never pin it on him. He's a clever fella."

Ms Mason said: "I thought it was weird, but John was a big drinker and did strange things.

"People will say I should have twigged John was Wearside Jack, but that's easy in hindsight."