The weather on Friday, April 22nd, 1966, was atrocious, and as a result racing was cancelled. That left Bingley bookmaker Fred Craven alone in his Wellington Street office with time on his hands. Bookies are fair game for thieves and thieves know how quiet bookies offices are when racing is off.
That morning Fred was brutally attacked and died from asphyxia after inhaling blood, pouring from his fractured skull. He was a hunchback, 60 years old, and not strong enough to defend himself against his determined killer, who was intent on stealing the office cash. An identikit picture of a street loiterer was widely circulated, but it drew a blank.