Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright has confessed to the murder of one of his six victims in a surprising plea change just before his trial. Wright, aged 67, was about to face trial at the Old Bailey for the killing of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, who disappeared 25 years ago. Formerly residing in London Road, Ipswich, the serial killer made a sudden shift in his plea, admitting to the kidnapping and murder of Victoria on September 19, 1999.
Additionally, Wright pleaded guilty to attempting to kidnap 22-year-old Emily Doherty in Felixstowe the day before Victoria’s murder. This marks the first time that Wright has acknowledged any of the killings, despite urging from his family to confess. Wright, a former merchant seaman, is currently imprisoned at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, serving a whole life sentence for the murders of five women seven years after Victoria’s death. The decision to allow jurors in his trial to be informed of his previous murder convictions was made by Mr Justice Bennathan, despite objections from the defense citing potential prejudice.
During the trial, the prosecution pushed for evidence involving a sex worker familiar to Wright, who would testify that he was acquainted with the area connected to Victoria’s murder. Victoria, hailing from Trimley St. Mary in Suffolk, went missing after leaving her home for a night out with a friend. Her body was discovered in a ditch in Creeting St. Peter, approximately 25 miles away, five days later. Victoria, a sixth-former, had aspirations of studying sociology at a university in Roehampton, Surrey, prior to her tragic death.
The Ipswich community endured six weeks of fear as detectives pursued the serial killer responsible for the deaths of five women that year, including Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennel, and Annette Nicolls, who were all sex workers. Tania, the youngest victim of Wright in 2006, disappeared from Ipswich’s red-light district and was found deceased on December 8 that year. Described as a former sea cadet looking forward to a naval career, Tania’s father expressed deep distress upon learning about her involvement in sex work due to drug addiction.
Gemma Adams, last seen at a BMW dealership in Ipswich, was reported missing by her boyfriend after failing to respond to messages. Her parents remembered her as lively, having grown up playing the piano and riding horses. Gemma’s family lost contact with her following her struggle with drug addiction, and her body was located near Tania’s remains in early December 2006.
Anneli Alderton, a mother-to-be, vanished in the initial stages of pregnancy and was last spotted on a train to Manningtree from Harwich. Her body, positioned in a crucifix form, was discovered near the Amberfield School shortly after. Anneli, who excelled academically but battled drug dependency from a young age, had moved to Cyprus with her mother in the 1990s before returning to Ipswich.
Another victim, Paula Clennel, originally from Northumberland, went missing in Ipswich and was found deceased near Levington, coinciding with the discovery of Annette Nicolls’ body. Despite expressing concerns about the murders, Paula continued working due to financial necessity. She left behind three children who were taken into care and later adopted, and her cause of death was determined as compression to the throat.
Annette Nicolls, a mother-of-one, disappeared from Ipswich town center, prompting her family to report her missing amid the ongoing murders in the area. Her body, posed in a crucifix position, was located a few days later. Annette, the oldest victim of Wright, had battled drug addiction before her tragic end, leaving her child in her mother’s care while residing with a man in the city.
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