Donald Neilson, the serial killer known as the Black Panther, has died in prison at the age of 75. He was serving four life sentences for the murder of a teenage girl and three sub-postmasters.
Neilson died at HMP Norwich on Sunday after suffering breathing difficulties. He had reportedly been suffering from motor neurone disease for several years. The prisons and probation ombudsman will conduct an investigation.
In July 1975, Neilson was given four life sentences for the kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Lesley Whittle and the murders of sub-postmasters Donald Skepper, Derek Astin, and Sidney Grayland. He was told he would never be released.
Whittle was held in a disused ventilation shaft 50ft below ground, where Neilson forced her to record ransom pleas. Her body was found hanging from a wire at the bottom of the shaft in March 1975.
A former soldier and jobbing builder from Bradford, Neilson changed his name from Nappey by deed poll in 1960. He carried out hundreds of burglaries before turning to armed robbery, targeting post offices. He was dubbed the Black Panther because of his black clothing and balaclava, and a victim's wife said he moved 'like a panther'.
He was caught in December 1975 after two policemen spotted him acting suspiciously near Mansfield. His death leaves 46 'whole-life tariff' prisoners in England and Wales.
