British serial killer Harold Shipman killed up to 15 patients while working as a junior doctor more than 30 years ago, an official report has revealed.
Dame Janet Smith
The deaths occurred between 1971 and 1974 at Pontefract General Infirmary in West Yorkshire, according to the sixth report of the Shipman Inquiry set up to investigate the actions of Britain's most prolific serial killer.
The inquiry has already found that Shipman murdered at least 215 patients with lethal morphine injections while working at a one-man GP practice in Hyde, Greater Manchester, after leaving Pontefract.
Inquiry chairman Dame Janet Smith said that suspicion surrounded a number of other deaths.
In the report - entitled Shipman: The Final Report- Dame Janet said: "My overall conclusion, therefore, is that Shipman killed about 250 patients between 1971 and 1998."
He was convicted of drug offences in 1976 after becoming addicted to pethidine as a young doctor, but he was allowed to carry on practising by the General Medical Council.
He was jailed for life in January 2000 after being convicted at Preston Crown Court of 15 murders. The 57-year-old was found hanged in his cell in Wakefield Prison in January last year.
The Shipman Inquiry was ordered by the British government in February 2000.
During the inquiry, questions were raised about a further 137 deaths in addition to the original 215 at Pontefract General Hospital between 1970 and 1974, when Shipman worked there as a junior doctor.
In April last year the inquiry said it would investigate a further three cases in Hyde, as well as an alleged confession by Shipman while he was in prison in Preston.
PA