John David Guise Cannan

Feb 20, 1954

John David Guise Cannan born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England.

1961

At ages 7-8, Cannan was sexually abused by a schoolteacher for several months, causing him shame and fear that made him develop a stammer.

1968

At age 14, Cannan indecently assaulted a woman in a phone box in Erdington and was placed on probation.

1971

Cannan left school after gaining 5 secondary education certificates and 3 ordinary level general certificates, joined Merchant Navy for 3 months.

May 1978

Cannan married June Vale after 7-year engagement; they had one daughter, Louise.

Feb 14, 1980

Cannan met Sharon Major, a 32-year-old woman, beginning a relationship while still married.

Apr 1980

Cannan and Sharon Major began living together with her children.

Dec 30, 1980

Cannan attacked Sharon Major at her house, strangling her during intercourse, threatening to kill her with an air gun, and telling her on the way to hospital he meant to kill her.

Dec 31, 1980

Date recorded as December 31, 1980, for the assault on Sharon Major, though the attack occurred December 30.

Mar 06, 1981

Cannan entered a ladies knitwear shop in Sutton Coldfield, pulled a knife, threatened a 37-year-old shop owner and her 17-month-old son, demanded money, and raped the shop owner in front of her mother and son.

Mar 14, 1981

Cannan was questioned about the attacks on Sharon Major.

Jun 26, 1981

Cannan was convicted and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment: 5 years for rape and 3 years for robbery and vehicle theft.

Feb 1982

Cannan transferred to Horfield Prison, Bristol, to serve his sentence.

Sep 1984

Cannan moved to The Verne, a semi-open prison at Portland, Dorset.

Feb 1985

Cannan's father died; they had exchanged attempts to make peace when father visited while terminally ill with cancer.

Jan 25, 1986

Cannan sent to Wormwood Scrubs Prison in pre-release scheme lasting 6 months, providing some freedom while still in custody.

May 03, 1986

Cannan released from prison after serving 5 years of his 8-year sentence.

May 06, 1986

Sandra Court strangled to death in Lansdowne, near Bournemouth; Cannan was questioned but not charged; no concrete evidence tied him to this crime.

Jul 25, 1986

Cannan officially released from prison.

Jul 28, 1986

Suzy Lamplugh, a 25-year-old estate agent, disappeared from west London after scheduled meeting with 'Mr. Kipper'; Cannan was later suspected but never charged.

Sep 1986

Cannan attempted suicide by taking 68 paracetamol tablets; later that month he met Annabel, his solicitor.

Oct 06, 1986

Cannan raped Donna Tucker on Whiteladies Road, Bristol, after opening her car door with a knife; she reported the incident to police.

Oct 06, 1986

Cannan raped a woman in Reading, Berkshire, at knifepoint while she was parked under a street lamp. DNA evidence later linked him to this crime.

Nov 14, 1986

Cannan was questioned about the rape of Donna Tucker but denied everything; not convicted due to lack of evidence at that time.

Nov 30, 1986

Cannan moved back in with his mother in Sutton Coldfield.

Sep 1987

Cannan signed up at a video-dating agency under the fake name John Peterson, requesting women aged 25-35; agency owners felt something was not right and did not release his video.

Oct 07, 1987

Julia Holman walked to her car alone when a man attempted to force himself into her car; she fought him off and later identified Cannan in a police lineup.

Oct 08, 1987

Shirley Anne Banks, a 29-year-old factory manager, disappeared from Bristol city centre after her abduction by Cannan in her white Mini.

Oct 29, 1987

Cannan arrested after entering Carmel Cleary's store, pulling a knife on her and another woman, and attempting robbery with intent to abduct and sexually assault. Police found a knife and jacket with blood in plastic bags he dropped while fleeing.

Nov 02, 1987

Police charged Cannan with assault.

Nov 05, 1987

Julia Holman positively identified Cannan in a police lineup as the attempted kidnapper from October 7; he was charged with attempted kidnap.

Nov 09, 1987

Police decided not to formally charge Cannan with kidnapping Shirley Banks due to lack of evidence at that time.

Dec 23, 1987

Cannan was charged with the murder and kidnap of Shirley Banks after her thumbprint was found on a document in his flat.

Apr 03, 1988

Shirley Banks' decomposed body was found in the Quantock Hills near Dead Woman's Ditch in Somerset by people gathering moss; severe head injuries indicated blunt force trauma; a rock with blonde hair on it was found nearby.

Jul 14, 1988

Cannan was charged with 9 additional offences: rape and buggery of Sharon Major (1980), making indecent assault on Sharon Major (1980), causing grievous bodily harm to Sharon Major (1980), rape of Donna Tucker (1986), buggery of Donna Tucker (1986), indecent assault of Donna Tucker (1986), attempted abduction of Julia Holman (1987), and attempted sexual assault of Julia Holman (1987).

Apr 05, 1989

Cannan's trial began at Exeter Crown Court for the murder of Shirley Banks and 8 additional charges including rape, buggery, kidnap, attempted abduction, indecent assault and abduction for sex.

Apr 26, 1989

Cannan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 35 years by Mr Justice Drake at Exeter Crown Court.

Apr 26, 1989

After 10 hours of jury deliberation, Cannan was found guilty of all charges including the abduction and murder of Shirley Banks, rape and buggery of a Reading woman, and attempted kidnapping of Julia Holman at gunpoint.

Jul 23, 1991

Cannan appealed his conviction but was rejected.

2000

Cannan was interviewed by Metropolitan Police about Suzy Lamplugh disappearance as part of Operation Phoebus re-investigation.

2002

Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to charge Cannan with Suzy Lamplugh's murder, though police publicly stated they believed he killed her.

Sep 2023

Cannan became eligible for parole after serving 34 years of his life sentence.

Oct 2023

Parole board refused to release Cannan, finding him too dangerous.

Nov 06, 2024

Cannan died in HM Prison Full Sutton at age 70 from natural causes while serving his life sentence.