Killer GP letters are withdrawn

A controversial collection of letters written by Harold Shipman has been withdrawn from an auction.

Killer GP Shipman wrote the letters to former patients David and Mavis Stott while he was in prison.

The announcement of the sale last month caused anger in and around Hyde, where many of his victims lived.

Nick Hall, from auction house Frank Marshall & Co in Cheshire, who planned to put the thoughts of the mass murderer under the hammer next month, said they had reconsidered selling the letters.

Backlash

He added: “In light of the upset and general bad feeling caused by the publicity surrounding the intended sale by auction of the Harold Shipman letters, Frank Marshall & Co have been in talks with our clients regarding their sale.

“Following our recommendations, we would like to announce that we have withdrawn the letters from our auction and they have been returned to the owners.”

The principal auctioneer and valuer blamed the press for the public backlash.

He said: “It was our hope that these letters would have been viewed as important historical documents and served as an invaluable psychological insight into the mind of a serial killer for institutions to study —not as the sensationalised news story that has been whipped up.”

Stalybridge and Hyde MP James Purnell welcomed the move.

He said: “Plans to auction these letters have caused a great deal of distress and prompted a strong reaction locally.

“I know the decision to remove the items from public auction will be widely welcomed.

“I hope this is the end of the matter.”