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A Jack the Ripper copycat who murdered two mothers after stalking them through the streets of London like the notorious Victorian murderer has died, aged 64.
Derek Brown, dubbed the ‘Modern Ripper’, was jailed for a minimum of 30 years on October 6 2008 after he was found guilty of murdering DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo, 29, and prostitute Bonnie Barrett, 24.
He denied murder but admitted paying both women for sex before their disappearance in 2007.
The previously-convicted rapist found his victims in the Whitechapel area of London – famously stalked by Jack the Ripper in the 1880s.
A search of Brown’s Rotherhithe flat found traces of blood belonging to both women, as well as a receipt for a bow saw, heavy duty gloves, rubble sacks and cleaning materials.
It’s believed he hacked his victims apart before disposing of their remains.
Brown was serving his sentence in HMP Wakefield but is believed to have become unwell on September 27.
He was taken to hospital and died two days later at the age of 64 – just days away from his 65th birthday.
The remorseless killer’s victims’ remains have never been found.
Jack the Ripper copycat killer Derek Brown has died, aged 64, after being taken to hospital
He was sentenced to a minimum term of 30 years on October 6 2008 after he was found guilty of murdering DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo (right), 29, and prostitute Bonnie Barrett, 24 (left)
A source close to former delivery driver Brown said: ‘He was in critical care since Saturday.
‘They found him in his cell on Saturday, and he was in critical care since Saturday 5pm until Monday when he died at 3pm.’
Police at the time of the murders believed Brown sought ‘notoriety’ for the killings.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Kandiah said: ‘If he kept killing prostitutes from the Whitechapel area, then that link (with Jack the Ripper) would be made.
‘If this was a spree, it seems likely that we stopped him at number two.’
Speaking during his court case, sentencing Judge Martin Stephens told Brown: ‘You have shown not a sliver of remorse.
‘You murdered two women. Both were vulnerable, plying their trade on the streets, in each case falling into your hands precisely because of their availability and their lack of protection.
‘What you did to each of those women before you killed them we can only speculate about. How you killed them we cannot know.
‘What we do know is you disposed of their bodies with frightening efficiency so that not a trace of either woman has been found.’
Mrs Guo, who had two children, was last seen in August 2007 selling DVDs in Whitechapel market. CCTV pictures showed her with Brown by Whitechapel Tube station, a court heard.
Derek Brown is caught on CCTV after slaughtering two women in London in 2007
Prosecutors say he wanted to gain ‘notoriety’ for his killings, which appeared to copy those of Jack the Ripper (pictured is an artist’s impression of the Ripper from the Police Gazette)
Miss Barrett disappeared from the same area on September 18 2007.
Police spent 800 hours searching for their bodies, which including trawls of the Thames by specialist divers.
Judge Stephens said there was clear ‘circumstantial evidence’ which proved Brown dismembered and disposed of the bodies.
‘The only person who could prove this not to be true would be you, if you ever chose to tell the police where their bodies or remains could be found,’ the judge added.
‘The anguish of both victims’ families is exacerbated, made much worse by their inability to lay each lady to rest.’
The prosecution said Brown targeted the women as they were ‘soft targets’ and would not be missed
Speaking of his death, a Prison Service spokesman said: ‘Derek Brown died in hospital on September 29 while serving a sentence at HMP Wakefield.
‘As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.’