The Black Panther

The robbery at the Heywood Post Office disrupts the small-town routine as Neilson bursts in, demanding cash and escaping through the back. He loses his black-hooded mask during a fight with the owner, which later becomes part of his notoriety. After the escape, he returns home to his wife and teenage daughter, who are unaware of his criminal life.

Back at home, Neilson maintains the façade of a strict family man. He demands obedience from his wife and daughter, all while quietly planning his next robberies and a possible kidnapping. The double life fuels his chilling persona and foreshadows his later acts.

On 15 February 1974, Neilson robs the New Park Post Office and shoots the sub-postmaster, triggering a £5,000 reward for his capture. The crime marks a more dangerous phase in his activities, and press coverage grows as investigators tighten the net. The notoriety of the Black Panther begins to take hold in public perception.

Mid-1974, while collecting newspaper clippings about his crimes, he reflects on his army past and begins to seriously plan the kidnapping of Lesley Whittle. He envisions the leverage he would gain over a wealthy family and starts shaping a kidnapping scheme. The plan remains secret from those around him.

On 6 September 1974, he robs the Higher Baxenden Post Office and shoots the owner. Witnesses see him scrambling across rooftops, and the escape reinforces his infamous nickname. The incident broadens his reach and heightens the manhunt.

On 11 November 1974, he strikes Langley Post Office, shooting two clerks in the process. The ferocity of the crime pushes the press to declare him Public Enemy Number One. The violent spree consolidates the regional manhunt and media fixation.

On 14 January 1975, Neilson abducts Lesley Whittle from her bed in Highley, Shropshire. He drives her to Bathpool Park in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, and leads her sixty feet underground into a reservoir drainage shaft. He places her on a narrow ledge with food and drink and tightens a ligature to keep her from escaping while he arranges the ransom.

Following the kidnapping, the Whittle family informs the police and a ransom demand of £50,000 is issued. Public and press scrutiny intensifies as investigators work to trace communications. The case enters a high-stakes phase with a demanding deadline and widespread attention.

Two ransom attempts fail, and Neilson shoots again during the negotiation. Ronald Whittle, Lesley’s brother, is given the instructions on where to deliver the money and must drive to Bathpool Park and watch for a flashing light. The plan begins to unravel as time runs short.

In the ensuing confusion, Neilson returns to Lesley at the ledge; she falls from the ledge and dies, though the exact cause remains unclear. The death marks a deadly turning point in the kidnapping and the case's trajectory. Investigators scramble to understand how the events unfolded at Bathpool Park.

On 23 January 1975, the car Neilson had stolen is found abandoned, and investigators connect the kidnapping to the series of ‘Black Panther’ killings. The discovery broadens the investigation and confirms a link between the crimes. Police intensify their search for the elusive kidnapper.

On 7 March 1975, Lesley Whittle's body is found in Bathpool Park, confirming the tragedy and the killer's deadly reach. The discovery brings the case to a grim closure and heightens public outcry. The investigation resumes with renewed urgency to capture the perpetrator.

Finally, on 11 December 1975, Neilson is apprehended by two police officers after threatening them with a shotgun. The arrest brings an end to the manhunt and closes a notorious chapter in local crime history. He faces trial for the earlier crimes and the kidnapping.