Man in court charged with Suffolk murders

A 48-year-old man will appear in court today accused of murdering five prostitutes.

Former forklift truck driver Steve Wright, of Ipswich, Suffolk, will appear before magistrates in the town charged with the murders of Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

Wright was charged last night after being arrested at his home on Tuesday morning.

Detectives launched a murder inquiry after the bodies of the women were found near villages south of Ipswich during a ten-day period earlier this month.

News of the charge was announced by Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull, who has headed the investigation, at a media conference at Suffolk police headquarters last night.

He said a 37-year-old man had been released on police bail without charge pending further inquiries.

The first man was arrested at his home in Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, on suspicion of murdering the five women early on Monday.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s senior prosecutor Michael Crimp said a team of CPS lawyers had been in close contact with detectives since the arrests were made earlier this week.

“As this case has developed, we have been carefully examining and assessing the evidence,” he said.

“This evening we have made the decision that there is sufficient evidence and authorised that Steven Wright... should be charged with murder.”

He urged journalists of the need for care in reporting events surrounding the case, adding: “Steven Wright stands accused of these offences and has a right to a fair trial.”

Detectives launched an inquiry after Miss Nicol vanished in late October. Miss Adams disappeared two weeks later.

A murder investigation began on December 2 when Miss Adams’s body was found in a stream at Hintlesham, Suffolk.

Over the next ten days, the bodies of the other four women were found in isolated locations nearby.

Detectives said all the women were discovered naked. Miss Alderton had been strangled, and Miss Clennell had died as a result of “compression” to the neck.

Police have not revealed how Miss Adams, Miss Nicol and Miss Nicholls died.

Inquests into the deaths of all five women have been opened and adjourned.