In February 1983, the tenants of Cranley Gardens, in the Muswell Hill area of London, complained that their drains were blocked. Dyno-Rod sent over one of their technicians, who was initially puzzled to remove the drain cover and find that a fatty substance was clogging the drains. When he investigated further, he discovered a number of small bones. The technician returned on the following day with his supervisor, and convinced that the remains were human, they called the police.

As soon as police arrived on the scene, they began to question the occupants of 23 Cranley Gardens, and on entering the top-floor appartment of Dennis Nilsen they were immediately struck by the smell of rotting flesh. As soon as the police began to question him, Nilsen readily admitted to having killed '15 or 16' different people, and the story of one of Britain's most prolific serial killers was uncovered.


The True Crime Shorts series is intended to give the reader a short, concise account of some of the most gruesome crimes in modern times. Each book provides the reader with the essential facts concerning a serial killer, along with analysis that tries to comprehend their motives; no distractions, just the essential facts, allowing the reader to master the case in the shortest time possible.