Police question Steve Wright about unsolved cases

Serial killer Steve Wright has been questioned about a series of cold cases but is "not currently a suspect" in any of them, the police have told the BBC.

The 68-year-old was jailed for life in 2008 for the murders of five women in Ipswich between October and December 2006.

In February, he was given a further life sentence after pleading guilty to the kidnap and killing of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, from Trimley St Mary, in September 1999.

Suffolk Police said his admissions prompted the force to consider whether Wright may have been involved in other unsolved disappearances or murders.

"Following his sentencing for the murder of Victoria Hall earlier this year, he has been interviewed in prison about other unsolved cases," a spokesperson said.

"In the cases where we have DNA we have sought to use it to eliminate him from inquiries."

Victoria had left the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe with her friend at about 01:00 BST in September 1999, and they went their separate ways at about 02:30.

After being reported missing the next day, her body was found five days later in a ditch 25 miles (40km) away in Creeting St Peter.

Wright was due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in London in February charged with murder and kidnap of Victoria, and of attempting to kidnap 22-year-old Emily Doherty.

However, he unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty, prompting gasps in the courtroom.

Prof David Wilson has suggested Wright may consider coming clean about potential links to other unsolved disappearances.

The prominent criminologist highlighted the cases of Kellie Pratt, 28, last seen in Norwich in 2000, and Amanda Duncan, 26, who went missing in Ipswich in 1993.

Police said they would not provide the details of the cases that officers quizzed Wright on when asked by the BBC.

"He is not currently a declared suspect on any unsolved case, but the potential for his involvement is always considered as we review cold cases," the police added.

The killer's admission to Victoria's murder came as a particular surprise given he has never admitted murdering any of the five women for which he was jailed nearly 20 years ago.

Wright was found guilty of murdering Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29, on 21 February 2008.

He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court to a whole life order the following day.

The forklift driver, from Erpingham in Norfolk, appealed against the convictions before later deciding to drop the appeal.

The BBC asked police if officers asked Wright to confess to the murders of the five women from Ipswich in light of his guilty plea regarding Victoria.

"He was not asked again about the five murders in 2006 for which he has already been convicted," the police spokesperson responded.

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