Anthony Arkwright was born in 1967 in Wath-upon-Dearne, South Yorkshire, England. Raised in a troubled environment, he was one of five siblings abandoned by their mother at an early age. His father, a miner, was largely absent, leading Arkwright to spend much of his childhood in care homes. Rumors circulated that he was the product of an incestuous relationship between his mother and grandfather. Arkwright struggled academically and drifted into a life of petty crime, eventually serving time in a borstal. By 1988, he was employed at a scrap metal yard in Mexborough but was dismissed on 26th of August for poor attendance. ​

Following his dismissal, Arkwright embarked on a 56-hour killing spree that shocked the nation. His first victim was his grandfather, 68-year-old Stanislav Pudoikas, whom he attacked at an allotment. Arkwright stabbed him, causing paralysis, then dragged him into a shed and crushed his skull with a 14-pound hammer. After the murder, he visited local pubs, making cryptic comments like, "It's been murder on the allotment today."

The second victim was believed to be 73-year-old Elsa Kronadaite, Pudoikas's housekeeper. Arkwright is suspected of killing her while stealing £3,000 from his grandfather's savings. However, this charge was ordered to lie on file during his trial. ​

Arkwright's third and fourth victims were his neighbors, Raymond Ford and Marcus Law. He brutally stabbed them hundreds of times, mutilating their bodies in a manner reminiscent of Jack the Ripper, whom he reportedly idolized. He even gouged out one victim's eyes and placed cigarettes in the sockets.

Arrested on 30th of August 1988, Arkwright was initially held on suspicion of robbery. While in custody, he taunted detectives, claiming he could read the future with playing cards and expressing a desire for notoriety akin to infamous serial killers.

In July 1989, Arkwright was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation of serving at least 25 years. However, the Home Secretary later imposed a whole-life tariff, ensuring he would never be released. At 22, he became the youngest person in the UK to receive such a sentence.