Serial killer Steve Wright has admitted to the kidnapping and murder of 17 year old Victoria Hall, more than 25 years after she disappeared in Suffolk.
Wright, who is already serving a whole life prison sentence, changed his plea to guilty at the Old Bailey in London. He also admitted attempting to kidnap another woman the night before Victoria went missing.
Guilty Plea at the Old Bailey
The 67 year old appeared in court on Monday, where a trial had been due to begin. Before the jury was sworn in, Wright changed his pleas and admitted all charges.
He confessed to murdering Victoria Hall and attempting to kidnap 22 year old Emily Doherty in Felixstowe the night before. The court heard audible gasps as Wright made his admissions. This marked the first time he publicly accepted responsibility for killing anyone.
He will be sentenced on Friday.
Who Was Victoria Hall
Victoria Hall lived in Trimley St Mary near Felixstowe. She was studying for her A levels and had previously attended Orwell High School.
On 18 September 1999, she went out with a friend to the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe. The pair left the club at around 1:00 am and walked back toward their homes.
They said goodbye at about 2:30 am, just yards from Victoria’s house. She never made it home. Her family reported her missing the next day.
Discovery of Victoria’s Body
Five days later, police found Victoria’s naked body in a ditch beside an agricultural field in Creeting St Peter. The location was about 25 miles away from where she disappeared.
In 2001, a local businessman stood trial for her murder. A jury later cleared him of all charges.
Police Reopen the Case
Suffolk Police reopened the investigation in 2019, marking 20 years since Victoria vanished. After reviewing new evidence, officers charged Wright with her murder.
Police also charged him with attempting to kidnap Emily Doherty the day before Victoria disappeared.
Wright’s History of Violence
In 2008, a jury convicted Wright of murdering five women in Ipswich in 2006. All five victims worked as sex workers.
They were Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls. Wright never admitted those killings, but the court sentenced him to life in prison.
Justice After 26 Years
Crown Prosecution Service prosecutor Samantha Woolley said the guilty plea finally brought justice. She praised the joint work between prosecutors and Suffolk Police over the past six years.
Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott said Victoria’s family had waited more than 26 years for answers. She added that while the guilty plea spared them a trial, their loss remains permanent and devastating.
