Today, I thought I’d put Nottingham on the map for you a little more, in relation to the crime world. Not that it’s a particularly high crime place, but so that you can imagine it as a setting for a crime novel. I want to create posts informing you of past events in the city’s history. Breath some real life into it.
Today I want to take you back to 1975 Nottinghamshire. Donald Neilson, a ruthless killer was on the run, after killing 4 victims. He was a killer crossing county boundaries. Boundaries he crossed until he eventually came into Nottinghamshire and this is where he was stopped.
You may know Donald Neilson as his press name of the Black Panther.
Two PC’s Tony White and Stuart Mackenzie, were in a marked police vehicle in the Mansfield area when they saw Neilson and asked to talk to him. At which point the police officers were held up by a sawn-off shotgun and directed to drive Neilson to Blidworth. They initially did as he instructed, but picked their moment and overpowered him before getting back-up from other officers and making an arrest.
A brilliant and exciting scene in a book. But it was real and I don’t think, all that exciting at the time. And it happened in Nottinghamshires history.
This place I’m setting my novel in has it’s own characters and own stories. It’s own violent underbelly. It’s all there for the crime novel. Now I just have to get my words in there the right way.
I hope you liked the historic peek into the criminal side of Nottingham. There may be more to come!
Rebecca – Oh, what a great story! I always like learning about these historical events that make a city real. So very interesting. And absolutely it breathes life into the setting for your novel. This is a great post.
Thanks Margot. I hope to be able to find some more interesting facts I can share. I think Nottingham is a great place and has a lot about it for a crime novel.
Thanks for this look at Nottingham’s scary side. Let us know how your true crime inspiration plays out.
I will Nancy. I’m enjoying finding it out for myself 🙂
Great post, Rebecca, and an interesting insight into Nottingham’s criminal history.
Thanks Jane. I think it’s going to be interesting researching this a bit more. 🙂
I love these kinds of stories, Rebecca. More please 😉
I’m glad you enjoyed it Dianne! I am definitely going to be bringing more of the real Nottingham and it’s history to the blog 🙂
I was in Tony Whites army cadets for many years. He was an Ex Royal Marine who then became a Police Officer. He was an inspiration to many young people. He certainly had a very positive influence on me. His army cadet corps was run with exceptional professionalism he demanded a high degree of loyalty and in return you received a high degree of motivation. When Tony overpowered Neilson he was assisted by two Miners who worked at Rufford Colliery. Both Miners actually beat Neilson quite severely during the struggle. I also worked at Rufford Colliery as an Underground Mine Worker from the age of 16 until I was 21 when I transferred to another mine. During my time at Rufford old miners used to speak about the arrest of Neilson and the role of the Miners who assisted. I would like to add that the arrest of Neilson was headline news for a number of weeks. The saga leading up to actual arrest and the arrest it’s self was a spectacular news story at the time. A film was made based on the story of the Black Panther but it was banned for a while I don’t know the reason why.
Interesting.
Funnily enough (yes, that’s a strange expression), I blogged the true story of Robin Hood. Of course, this reminded me of RH. Funny how this professor’s mind works. Some say he’s insane.
Neilson commited many crimes in the nottingham area before his capture. It is said he used his brace and bit on a large number of private households two weeks before capture. It seems he was at it left right and centre.