'Crossbow cannibal' admits prostitutes' murders

A criminology student who dubbed himself the "crossbow cannibal" has admitted murdering three prostitutes.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, killed Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who all went missing in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Griffiths, of Thornton Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to all three murders at a packed hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday and has been jailed for life.

Ms Blamires, 36, was last seen in May, while Ms Armitage, 31, went missing in April, and Ms Rushworth, 43, disappeared on June 22 last year.

The remains of Ms Blamires were found in the River Aire in Shipley, while body tissue belonging to Ms Armitage was also found in the river.

The body of Ms Rushworth has not been located.

Griffiths was dubbed "The crossbow cannibal" after he said that was his name during a previous court appearance at Bradford Magistrates.

Griffiths attended the private Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield in his teens.