James Inglis was born around 1922 in Scotland. Little is documented about his early life, family background, or upbringing. By the early 1950s, Inglis was living in England, where he became involved with criminal activities and was known to associate with individuals in the working-class areas of Kingston upon Hull. He was 29 years old at the time of his arrest and subsequent execution.

There is no public record indicating a history of violent behavior prior to the murder for which he was ultimately hanged. Nor is there any verified evidence of mental illness, though he would later attempt to plead insanity in court. His life story, though largely obscure, entered the public spotlight due to the swift and unprecedented nature of his trial, conviction, and execution.

On 1 February 1951, James Inglis murdered Alice Morgan, a 50-year-old woman who worked as a prostitute in Kingston upon Hull. The two reportedly became involved in a quarrel over payment for her services. According to Inglis's later confession, the argument escalated, and in a violent outburst, he strangled Morgan to death.

Following the murder, Inglis was arrested by police shortly thereafter and confessed to the killing. At trial, he attempted to mount a defense on the grounds of insanity. However, the jury was unconvinced. After weighing the evidence and his confession, the court swiftly found him guilty. On 20 April 1951, he was sentenced to death by Mr Justice Ormerod at the Assizes.

Since Inglis chose not to appeal the sentence, British law mandated that his execution be scheduled after the passage of three Sundays from the sentencing date. He was sent to Strangeways Prison (now HM Prison Manchester) to await execution. The gallows were located adjacent to his cell.

At approximately 7:00 AM on 8 May 1951, Inglis was escorted to the execution chamber by renowned British hangman Albert Pierrepoint, assisted by Syd Dernley. Following the advice of a prison officer to "go quickly and without fuss," Inglis reportedly cooperated entirely and walked briskly to the gallows. The entire process—from cell to drop—lasted just seven seconds, making it the fastest hanging on record in British history.

The extraordinary speed and mechanical precision of his execution became a notable point in capital punishment history. Inglis’s case later featured in the 2006 film Pierrepoint, with a character named “Maximovsky” portraying a fictionalized version of him. Though the character's name was changed, the scene depicted the rapid and stoic nature of Inglis’s execution.

Inglis remains a historical footnote not only for his crime but for the chilling efficiency of British execution protocols during the era. He was buried in an unmarked grave within the prison grounds, as was customary at the time for executed prisoners.