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TORMENTED FATHER’S PLEA

Dad of Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright begs his twisted son to admit to killing spree that saw five women murdered

But says even if he does he will still never forgive him for his terrible crimes

THE dad of Ipswich prostitute killer Steve Wright has urged his son to "stand up" and confess to murdering the five women in cold blood.

The forklift truck driver was caged for life for the murder of five young women who vanished in 2006 - but has never acknowledged his guilt.

 Conrad Wright (pictured) the dad of serial killer Steve Wright has urged him to confess what he did
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Conrad Wright (pictured) the dad of serial killer Steve Wright has urged him to confess what he didCredit: PA
 Steve Wright was jailed for life in 2008 for killing five young women
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Steve Wright was jailed for life in 2008 for killing five young womenCredit: PA

Locals suffered six weeks of terror while detectives hunted for the serial killer, his victim's naked bodies appearing in isolated locations around the Suffolk town.

In the wake of his conviction there were calls for Wright to face the death penalty from some of the victims' families.

Ten years on from the disappearance of his first victim, Conrad Wright, 80, called on his son, now 58, to confess.

 Known as the Suffolk Strangler, Wright murdered the five sex workers in Ipswich
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Known as the Suffolk Strangler, Wright murdered the five sex workers in IpswichCredit: Enterprise News and Pictures
 Their bodies were discovered in woodland in December 2006
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Their bodies were discovered in woodland in December 2006Credit: Connors

He told BBC Suffolk: "It's the only thing he can do, I mean he's a man ... but he doesn't do it does he?

"It's the only thing he could do to excuse himself is to stand up and admit it.

"I wouldn't forgive him, you can't forgive him - their lives were taken away, you don't forgive anybody for that anyway."

On October 30, 2006 Tania Nicol, 19, vanished from Ipswich's red light district, followed by Gemma Adams, 25 around two weeks later, triggering a major inquiry.

Miss Adams' body was found in a stream at Hintlesham on December 2, followed by the discovery of Miss Nichol's corpse in a pond at Copdock on December 8.

Two days later the body of Anneli Alderton, 24, was found in woods at Nacton and sex workers in the town were urged to stay off the streets.

On December 12 the bodies of Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were found near woods at Levington.

 His dad Conrad has said now is the time his son needs to stand up and admit to what he did
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His dad Conrad has said now is the time his son needs to stand up and admit to what he didCredit: Peter Simpson Photography
 His dad says he would still never forgive his son for his terrible crimes
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His dad says he would still never forgive his son for his terrible crimesCredit: PA
 Wright was one of the only people to be handed a whole life sentence
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Wright was one of the only people to be handed a whole life sentenceCredit: Connors

Wright was arrested at his Ipswich home a week later.

His father told the BBC: "The Steve I know ... he'd go to cricket at the weekend, and he'd come with me and look after the other two dogs we had then, he'd go down the road to the pub ... he wouldn't say boo to a goose."

Mr Wright said he did not know where his son was imprisoned, but would ask to hear the truth if they met again.

"And knowing him, he'd probably say, 'well, I don't know,' he would, and that would be his answer.

 Annette Nicholls was one of the young women murdered by Wright in 2006
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 Annette Nicholls was one of the young women murdered by Wright in 2006Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
 His victims...Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls
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His victims...Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Paula Clennell and Annette NichollsCredit: PA

"And I'd say well you've murdered people and he'd sit back and say: 'Have I? I can't remember.'"

During a trial at Ipswich Crown Court Wright admitted having sex with the women but denied murdering them.

Following his conviction in February 2009 he was given a full-life term - sentences only handed out in the gravest cases - to join the ranks of infamous killers Jeremy Bamber, Levi Bellfield and Rose West.

Relatives of Miss Nicol said at the time: "These crimes deserve the ultimate punishment and that can only mean one thing."

 

 


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