What happened to Lesley Whittle?

by 24britishtvOct. 11, 2021, 8 p.m. 113
-

LESLEY Whittle was just 17 when she was snatched by Donald Neilson - the Black Panther.

A new documentary series will now look into the builder turned career criminal, who was responsible for four murders and more than 400 burglaries.

Lesley Whittle was kidnapped and murdered in 1975.

The British teenager was kidnapped from her home in Highley, Shropshire on 14 January by Donald Neilson.

By that time, Neilson had committed over 400 burglaries and three murders.

The British press referred to him as "the Black Panther", for the black balaclava he wore during robberies of post offices.

He had seen a newspaper article about the legacy Lesley Whittle had received from her father George, a former miner who founded a coach company with his two brothers.

After meticulous planning the Black Panther made his way to the Whittles' home, and cut the phone lines outside the house before breaking into the garage.

He went to Lesley's bedroom, gagged the teenager and took her to his green Morris car where he tied her up and laid her down on the back seat.

She was wearing only her dressing gown and slippers.

Neilson drove Lesley to Bathpool Park at Kidsgrove in Staffordshire where he forced her down into the drainage shaft of the nearby reservoir.

Lesley would then spend her final days here - alone, cold and naked, tethered to the side of the shaft by a wire noose.

Her body was discovered nearly two months later on 7 March.

From when it was first announced she was kidnapped, the story dominated national headlines for 11 months.

The investigation involved over 400 officers from the West Mercia Constabulary, Staffordshire and West Midlands police forces and the Metropolitan Police.

During the trial at Oxford Crown Court, Neilson's defence lawyer Gilbert Gray QC contended that Whittle had accidentally fallen from the ledge and subsequently died.

He noted that Neilson had fed her chicken soup, spaghetti and meatballs, and bought her fish and chips, chicken legs and Polo mints.

Evidence found Neilson had provided his victim with a sleeping bag designed to prevent hypothermia, mattresses, survival blankets, survival bags, a bottle of brandy, six paperback books, a copy of the Times and two magazines for reading, a small puzzle, and two brightly coloured napkins.

Police discovered these items in the shaft, and in the subterranean canal running below it.

Donald Neilson was sentenced to life imprisonment in July 1976 for the kidnap and murder of Lesley Whittle.

In the early hours of 17 December 2011, Neilson was taken from Norwich Prison to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with breathing difficulties.

He was pronounced dead the next day.

-

Related Articles

HOT TRENDS

Big Mood review – Nicola Coughlan is a force of nature

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 3 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Daphne Joy Sexual & Physical Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 3 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Ex Daphne Joy’s Rape and Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 2 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Stephen Bear to pay £27k over illegal sex tape of Georgia Harrison

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 1 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter: The verdict - is it Yeehaw or No Ma'am?

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

FA charges Tonali over alleged betting rules breaches

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Isle of Man closer to assisted dying legalisation

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Watch: Comedian Ed Gamble in the hot dog house over tour poster

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Two people dead due to Storm Nelson

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Assisted dying: what are the laws in UK and what changes are proposed?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Sam Bankman-Fried live updates: 'Crypto King' sentenced to 25 years prison

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Storm Nelson brings snow in Devon raising fears of Easter travel chaos

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Could assisted dying be coming to Scotland?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Larry Lloyd | 1948 - 2024

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Happy Easter in a plastic egg •

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

A closer look: can right whales and offshore wind safely coexist?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2