Detective recalls horrific discovery of kidnapped teen

Phil Maskery, a former detective constable with Staffordshire Police, has shared harrowing memories of recovering the body of Lesley Whittle in January 1975. Whittle, from Highley, Shropshire, was kidnapped and murdered by Donald Neilson, known as the Black Panther. Maskery described the discovery as the most horrific thing he had ever witnessed, finding the teenager tethered like a dog at the bottom of an old mine shaft.

The case has recently been the subject of a popular BBC podcast, "The Cop, The Kidnap and The Killer." Launched six months ago, the series has garnered over one million listens and is now nominated for an industry award. Presenter Susan Hanks emphasized the importance of telling Whittle's story with respect, noting that fifty years later, it felt like the right time for a retelling.

Researcher Dave Waterhouse provided context, explaining that the Whittle family owned a large coach company in Shropshire and that Lesley was known as the heiress after her father's death. Donald Neilson, a builder turned career criminal, died in prison in 2011. Journalist Nick Owen, who covered the story as a young reporter, recalled the rising public concern and his own emotional involvement, noting how the case deeply affected him and his colleagues.