Serial killer Steve Wright in court over 1999 death

Steve Wright killed Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls, before dumping their bodies on the outskirts of Ipswich in 2006

Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright has been charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl more than 25 years ago, it can be reported.

Victoria Hall’s body was found five days after a night out in Felixstowe in September 1999.

Wright, 67, who is already serving a whole life jail sentence, denies killing her and is due to stand trial next month.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey in London, the judge has ruled a jury can be made aware of Wright’s previous convictions for the murder of five women who worked as prostitutes in the Ipswich area in 2006.

Suffolk Police Steve Wright: The head and shoulders of a balding man with brown hair looking directly ahead. He is wearing and open-necked white polo-style shirt. Behind him is a white window blind.Suffolk Police

Suffolk Police Victoria Hall - she is smiling and has hair tied at the back with some loose on the left of her face. The image is of just her face. She appears to be sitting down, with patterned wallpaper behind her.Suffolk Police

Victoria Hall disappeared in 1999 while walking home after a night out in Felixstowe

Victoria had been on a night out at the Bandbox nightclub on Felixstowe seafront and was last seen in the early hours of Sunday, 19 September, 1999, near her home in the neighbouring village of Trimley St Mary.

She was reported missing and her naked body was found five days later about 20 miles (32km) away in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket.

Wright, formerly of London Road in Ipswich, is also charged with kidnapping Victoria and the attempted kidnap of a 22-year-old woman that same weekend.

In 2008, Wright was convicted of murdering Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

He was given a whole life order, which means he will never be released from jail.

Wright was charged with Victoria’s murder in 2024.

Juries are not usually told about a defendant’s previous criminal convictions.

Court reporting restrictions meant the media had not been able to mention the 2006 killings until this latest court ruling in central London.

Wright appeared at the Old Bailey by video link from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.

He was wearing a white, short-sleeved T-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms and was sitting behind a desk.

He could be seen using crutches at the start of the hearing.

His trial is due to begin at the same court on 2 February.