Man Remanded Over Suffolk Murders

A 48-year-old man accused of the murder of five women who worked as prostitutes in Ipswich has appeared before a crown court judge in the Suffolk town.  Steven Wright is charged with the murders of Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Tania Nicol, 19, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

The former fork-lift truck driver was arrested at his home in the London Road area of Ipswich on 19 December. He was remanded in custody to appear in court again on 1 May. Another arrested man, Tom Stephens, 37, is currently on police bail.

The five women were discovered in countryside near the town between 2 and 12 of December. Ms Nicol vanished in late October, sparking a police inquiry.

When Ms Adams’s body was found in a stream at Hintlesham, Suffolk on 2 December, police began a murder inquiry. The bodies of the other four victims were discovered in rural locations nearby over the following 10 days.

Police said Ms Alderton had been strangled, and Ms Clennell had died as a result of “compression” to the neck. Police have not said how Ms Adams, Ms Nicol or Ms Nicholls died.

Before the hearing last month at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court, Mr Wright’s solicitor, Paul Osler, who did not apply for bail, said his client was “bearing up well” after the “trauma” of his arrest.