Police update on probe into whether 'Suffolk Strangler' killed teen girl

19 September 2023 , 19:26

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Steve Wright is under investigation for the murder of Victoria Hall (Image: PA)

Detectives probing Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright over a teenager’s murder in 1999 said they are making major progress.

The serial killer, 65, lived half a mile from Victoria Hall, 17, when she vanished 24 years ago yesterday. Wright, who is serving a whole life term for the murder of five sex workers, was arrested in July 2021 on suspicion of killing the schoolgirl. He was taken into police custody and remains under investigation.

Detectives said they remain committed to Victoria’s inquiry, with a full-time team of 17 officers and police staff. Suffolk Police said: “They are continuing to make excellent progress in a lengthy and methodical process.” Officers began reinvestigating the murder after launching Operation Avon in 2019.

It followed significant information from witnesses. A-level student Victoria vanished in the early hours of September 19, 1999, after leaving the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk. She and a pal parted at around 2.20am in Trimley St Mary, when Victoria was yards from her home.

Her parents Graham and Lorinda called police after she did not return. Victoria’s naked body was found five days later in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, 25 miles away. Former forklift driver Wright was said to be living in a flat near Trimley St Mary then. He is said to have been one of 12,000 people on a database after his licence plate was a partial match for a vehicle that followed a girl the night before Victoria vanished.

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Det Chief Insp Matthew Connick said: “The anniversary date of Victoria’s disappearance is always a time of reflection for us, as well as Victoria’s family and friends. I would like to renew our appeal to anyone with information about Victoria’s murder, who has not yet come forward, to do the right thing and contact us.”

Wright went on a killing spree between October 30 and December 10, 2006 in the red light area of Ipswich, Suffolk. The way Victoria’s body was dumped was similar to how Wright disposed of the naked bodies of Tania Nicol, 19, and Gemma Adams, 25, in a stream at Hintlesham.

Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were later found in woodland at Nacton. Adrian Bradshaw was found not guilty of Vicky’s murder in 2001.

Dan Warburton