Steve Wright | |
|---|---|
 Steve Wright was convicted of five murders on 22 February 2008 | |
| Born | Steven Gerald James Wright 24 April 1958 |
| Other names | The Suffolk Strangler |
| Conviction(s) | Five counts of murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (whole life order) |
| Details | |
| Victims | 5 |
Span of crimes | 30 October – 10 December 2006 |
| Country | England |
Date apprehended | 19 December 2006 |
- Five women, who worked as prostitutes found dead in UK brings fears of "Ipswich Ripper"
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- Steve Wright found guilty of murdering five prostitutes in Suffolk, England
- Steve Wright, killer of five prostitutes in Suffolk, England, sentenced to life imprisonment
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The Ipswich serial murders, commonly known as the work of the Suffolk Strangler, took place between 30 October and 10 December 2006, during which time the bodies of five murdered sex workers were discovered at different locations near Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Their bodies were discovered naked but there were no signs of sexual assault. Two of the victims, Anneli Alderton and Paula Clennell, were confirmed to have been killed by asphyxiation. A cause of death for the other victims, Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol and Annette Nicholls, was not established.
Suffolk Constabulary linked the killings and launched a murder investigation codenamed Operation Sumac. Due to the size of the investigation police officers were drafted from several other police forces. Two arrests were made in connection with the murders. The first suspect, who was never officially named by police, was released without charge. Forklift truck driver Steve Wright, age 48, was arrested on suspicion of murder on 19 December 2006 and charged with the murders of all five women on 21 December.[1]
Wright was remanded in custody and his trial began on 14 January 2008 at Ipswich Crown Court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, although he admitted having sex with all five victims and that he had been paying for sex workers' services since the 1980s. DNA and fibre evidence were presented to the court that linked Wright to the victims. He was found guilty of all five murders on 21 February 2008, and was sentenced the following day to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that he should never be released from prison.[2]
The murders received a large amount of media attention, both nationally and internationally. The press often compared the murders to those committed by Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered thirteen women and attacked seven others (mostly sex workers) in West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester between 1975 and 1980. There was some concern that the level of media coverage at the time could jeopardise a fair trial. The murders also sparked debates in the media over the laws surrounding prostitution.
- ^ Davies, Andy (22 December 2006). "Man charged over Ipswich murders". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
- ^ "Wright guilty of Suffolk murders". BBC News. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.