Serial killer Steve Wright, dubbed the Suffolk Strangler, has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to killing 17-year-old Victoria Hall, taking his evil crimes to a sixth murder victim.
Wright, now 67, had been due to go on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Victoria, who disappeared more than 25 years ago.
Wright, formerly of London Road, Ipswich, dramatically changed his plea on Monday (February 2) and finally admitted Victoria’s kidnap “by force or fraud” and murder on September 19 in 1999.
He also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, then aged 22, in Felixstowe the day before.
Former merchant seaman Wright, who is being held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, is already serving a whole life prison sentence for the murders of five women seven years after Victoria was killed. It is the first time Wright has admitted any killings, despite pleas from his family to come clean.
(Image: Suffolk Police / SWNS)
Victoria, from Trimley St Mary in Suffolk, had left her home on the evening of September 18 in 1999 for a night-out with her friend Gemma Algar at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe.
Five days later her body was found naked in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, around 25 miles from where she was last seen.
Sixth-former Victoria had been hoping to study sociology at university in Roehampton, Surrey, before she was killed.
(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
A year after her murder, her parents Graham and Lorinda Hall had appealed for help to bring her murderer to justice.
Mr Hall said at the time he remained optimistic, saying: “Whoever did this must be under as much pressure as we are. They have got it on their conscience all of the time.”
Mrs Hall died last December, before her daughter’s killer could be brought to justice.
(Image: PA)
Mr Justice Bennathan said he would sentence the defendant on Friday to give Ms Hall’s family the chance to attend and submit victim impact statements.
Prosecutor Jocelynn Ledward KC confirmed Ms Hall’s friend Gemma Algar and Ms Doherty would also submit statements.
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