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Community / Dennis Nilsen ITV drama has local angle

Dennis Nilsen (played by David Tennant) being arrested in 1983. Photo: NewPictures for itv

THE TRUE story behind one of the UK’s most notorious serial killers, to be screened on ITV over coming days, has a little known Shetland angle.

Dennis Nilsen, who killed 15 men between 1978 and 1983 and was sentenced to life in prison, spent almost two years of his military career at RAF Maybury, which was located at Virkie.

Some local residents will remember Nilsen who in 1971/72 was in his mid twenties.

He was working as a cook at the camp, which was part of NATO’s early warning stations during the height of the Cold War.

Maybury camp during the 1970s. Photo: Ronnie Robertson

The Maybury camp was the centre of entertainment and leisure activities for servicemen, and was similarly popular among local people who were allowed to use it.

Nilsen’s gruesome killing spree, however, only started after he had left the military and had moved to London.

ITV’s three part series Des, starring David Tennant, starts tonight (Monday) at 9pm.

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