In September 1974, sub-postmaster Derek Astin was killed by a serial killer who was sowing panic across Britain, murdering post office workers and anyone else who got in his way as he pulled off a string of armed robberies across the country. His widow described Nielson as being 'like a panther', and this comment, allied with his dark clothing, meant that Nielson was quickly dubbed 'The Black Panther' by the British press.

He woud go on to terrorise many more people, including Lesley Whittle, a rich heiress who was kidnapped and murdered, until his capture in 1975. That he was able to terrorize so many for so long was not so much a result of his desperation but more the incompetence of the British police and Scotland Yard.

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.