Photo credit: By HM Prison Barlinnie - HM Prison Barlinnie

Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel was one of the last prisoners to be hanged in HM Prison Barlinnie in Glasgow, Scotland.

Peter Manuel, "the Beast of Birkensaw", was responsible for the murder of seven people across Lanarkshire and South Scotland between 1956 and 1958 when he was eventually arrested.

Peter Manuel's victims are believed to be:

Anne Kneilands

Anne was only seventeen years old when, on 2 January 1956, Peter Manuel murdered her on an East Kilbride golf course. Anne was raped and beaten to death with a length of iron.

Manuel was questioned about the murder, but he was given an alibi by his father. Although later charged for this murder the case was later dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Marion Watt, Vivienne Watt and Margaret Brown

In September 1956 family members Marion Watt, Vivienne Watt and Margaret Brown were brutally shot dead in their own home. Initially police suspected Marion Watt's husband, William.

Although on a fishing trip it was suspected William Watt had taken a 180 mile round trip to stage a break in and kill his family members. William was identified by a ferryman on the Renfrew Ferry and a motorist claimed he had passed William on Loch Lomonside.

William was incarcerated in Barlinnie Prison for two months but was subsequently released after the ferryman's testimony was decided to be flawed. The police could find no other solid evidence or motive to prove William Watt had murdered his family.

Sydney Dunn

It is believed that Peter Manuel was job-hunting in Newcastle when he took his fifth victim, Sydney Dunn. Peter Manuel wasn't charged with this murder as it occurred in a different legal jurisdiction. Dunn's body was dumped on moorland in Northumberland. Dunn had already been hanged when a button from his jacket was found in Dunn's taxi.

Isabelle Cooke

Although Manuel was not originally thought to be involved in this murder he eventually led police to where he had buried her. Isabelle was only seventeen and was on the way to a dance at Uddingston Grammar School in December 1957. Isabelle was raped and strangled before she was buried.

Peter Smart, Doris Smart and Michael Smart

Peter Manuel took the lives of another family on New Year's Day 1958. It is believed that Manuel actually stayed in the house for a week after he'd murdered the Smart family. Dunn stole money from the house before leaving. The money was a saving's fund for a future holiday.

Manuel was eventually caught after the money he had in his possession was linked to the money stolen from the Smart house.

Manuel is also reported to have defended himself in court.

In 2016 British broadcaster ITV commissioned a drama based on the case.