After over 20 years of working around this area and knowing folk around said area. Bramley/Armley area of the cut is probably the dodgiest areas of the Leeds end of the LL. You can go past without any episode occurring but when it does occur you are always gonna remember it. Same as any big town or city there will be dodgy areas near the cut. Blackburn, Wigan, Manchester, Stoke, London we all know places where theres more chance of crime.
We came across about 6 blokes not kids/teenagers camping out on the locks in Bramley once. Lockie said there was 20 earlier, and further down the cut just before Leeds city centre my OH witnessed a bag snatcher on a bike. Exactly the same place where this unfortunate person was killed.
So those episodes will be kept in our memory. But I knew this area was suss. Dont be put off. Do your timings right and watch the weather. Theres always some one asking about bandit country where they are cruising. Its the way of life we live in. Theres roads and estates where folk say dont go all over the country.