Donald Neilson, also known as the Black Panther, was a notorious criminal in the 1970s. He committed four murders and over 400 burglaries during his five-year crime spree. Recently, Channel 5 released a documentary series called “The Abduction of Lesley Whittle” that sheds light on Neilson’s criminal activities. But who was Donald Neilson, and is he still alive today?
Who was Donald Neilson?
Born on August 1, 1936, Donald Neilson started as a builder but eventually turned to a life of crime. His criminal activities included burglary, murder, and even kidnapping. Neilson changed his name from Donald Nappey and married Irene at the age of 18. The couple moved to Bradford with their daughter, Kathryn, but faced financial struggles due to failed business ventures. Frustrated and resentful, Neilson embarked on a spree of 400 burglaries, always dressed in black and wearing a balaclava. Unsatisfied with his earnings, he escalated to armed robberies on Post Offices across the country, using a sawn-off shotgun and pistol.
Neilson’s Murder Spree and the Kidnapping of Lesley Whittle
Neilson’s crimes took a dark turn when he shot and killed sub-postmaster Donald Skepper during an armed raid in Harrogate, Yorkshire, in February 1974. Just two months later, he broke into the home of another sub-postmaster, Derek Astin, in Baxenden, Lancashire, shooting him dead while he lay in bed next to his wife. In November 1974, Neilson shot and killed postmaster Sidney Grayland in Langley, West Midlands, and brutally assaulted his wife, Peggy.
Meanwhile, Neilson had his eyes set on one final crime—the kidnapping of 17-year-old Lesley Whittle from Highley, Shropshire. Lesley became a target due to a family dispute over her father’s will, which left a substantial fortune. Neilson meticulously planned the abduction, studying the family’s routines and the layout of their home for a year. In the early hours of January 14, 1975, Neilson broke into Lesley’s room, gagged and bound her, and forced her into a stolen car.
The Tragic End and Neilson’s Capture
Neilson kept Lesley captive in an underground hideout he had discovered in Bathpool Park, Staffordshire. The police and Lesley’s family launched a desperate search, following the kidnapper’s ransom demands. Sadly, Lesley’s life came to a tragic end when Neilson accidentally caused her death during captivity. Her body was found hanging from a wire noose in an underground platform 60ft below ground. Neilson had returned to his life of crime after Lesley’s abduction, leading to his capture in December 1975. Following a struggle with police officers, he was arrested and later convicted for Lesley’s kidnap and murder, as well as the murders of the three sub-postmasters.
Is Donald Neilson Still Alive?
Donald Neilson’s criminal spree came to an end, but what happened to him afterward? On December 17, 2011, Neilson was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital due to breathing difficulties caused by motor neurone disease. Sadly, he passed away a day later in the same hospital.
Why was Donald Neilson called the Black Panther?
Donald Neilson earned the nickname “the Black Panther” due to his distinctive appearance during his crimes. Marion Astin, the widow of Derek Astin, one of Neilson’s victims, described him as being dressed entirely in black and “so quick he was like a panther.” The press picked up on this description, hence the moniker.
Donald Neilson’s Legacy
Donald Neilson left a dark legacy, forever marking the lives of his victims and their families. His daughter, Kathryn, wrote a book titled “Behind the Panther’s Smile,” revealing the unsettling details of Neilson’s home life and his transformation into a monster. Despite the horrors her father committed, Kathryn and her mother were completely unaware of his terrible secret until the police apprehended him.
The story of Donald Neilson, the Black Panther, serves as a chilling reminder of the depths of human depravity and the long-lasting impact of his heinous crimes.