Count Dracula was inspired by one of the suspects believed to be Jack the Ripper, an author has claimed in a new book. Andy Struthers, 54, rubbishes conventional theories that Bram Stoker's vampire was based on feared Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler and has spent 10 years researching the character's genesis. Early research concluded it could be an Anglican priest from Devon named Sabine Baring-Gould. But he now believes Dracula to be based on convicted criminal Francis Tumblety, who some historians believe to be Jack the Ripper. Francis Tumblety (left) was known to have been in the Whitechapel area during the notorious spree of killings in 1888, nine years before Dracula was published. Right: Gary Oldman starring as Dracula in 1992