Peter Allen

Peter Anthony Allen was one of the last two men hanged in Britain, along with his fellow murderer Gwynne Evans.

Life
Peter Anthony Allen was born in Wallasey, Cheshire on the 4th of April 1943. He dropped out of school at 15, and lost his first two jobs due to carelessness, causing him to become a pipe cleaner, a job he left to join the Junior Leaders Regiment of the UK army. Two months later, he was discharged as they "no longer required" his services. Allen joined a trucking company, but was sacked after he was arresting for helping to steal a car; he received a conditional discharge. Allen joined a second company and was promoted, however he was unable to handle the responsibility and was fired.

In 1961, he married a woman named Mary, and met Gwynne Evans, with whom he committed several burglaries. He also lost several more jobs. In 1964, they were arrested and ordered to pay a fine after an incompetent attempt to cover up the number plate of their van during a robbery. Evans asked his friend John "Jack" West for money to pay the fine. When he refused, Evans and Allen stole a car in order to drive to West's house. When they got there, Evans broke in alone and let Allen in. However, during the burglary West came downstairs and attacked Allen. During the struggle, the two of them beat West with an iron bar and stabbed him multiple times. Evans later admitted to stealing West's watch after this. The two of them were identified and arrested. During interrogation, Evans accidentally denied having a knife, despite never being told that West was stabbed. After a lengthy trial, the jury found both of them equally guilty as they were unable to prove who had killed West. Both men were executed on August 13th, 1964. A year later, the death penalty was suspended in Britain.