8 Heinous Scottish Criminals - And Their Crimes

8. Dennis Nilsen

Subject of an as-yet unreleased drama starring David Tennant, Dennis Nilsen was a number of things throughout his life. He was an army cook, a member of the police force and a security guard. He was also a chronic abuser of alcohol and a serial killer.

His childhood was one of loneliness and isolation, compounded when he realised he was a homosexual and attempted to keep this hidden from all around him. Joining the army, he served as a chef over a number of postings around the world before moving down to London and joining the Metropolitan Police.

While in London, Dennis' mental state deteriorated further and a slew of failed romances with other men led him to believe he was not fit to live. From 1978 he is believed to have killed at least twelve young men. His usual method was to drink heavily with them and then end their life via drowning or asphyxiation.

Known as "The Kindly Killer" due to the way that he "cared" for the remains of his victims by washing and cleaning them, there are far more unsavoury details of his crimes available to anyone with a strong enough stomach to research further.

Sentenced to life imprisonment, he died in 2018 at the age of 72.