GUILTY UK - Victoria 'Vicky' Hall, 17, Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, 18 Sep 1999 *arrest 2023* *trial 2026*

[Rookie D]

Another interesting point to note is that the Bandbox nightclub seems to have been considered as one of the primary focus points of the initial investigation into Bradshaw.

Victoria had attended the same night the weekend before.

But on that same weekend (a week prior to her abduction and murder) a 19 woman was raped after having spent the evening at the same club. (reported in the Portsmouth Evening News, September 21st 1999)

I haven't been able to find if the rape occurred on the same day, but it certainly was over that same weekend.

It seems to me very possible that the police thought there was potentially a guy targeting women who had been to that particular club.

From the perspective of Wright, it would be interesting to know if he was aware that a rape had occurred the week before, because if he was aware, then the idea to target a young girl who had left the club, would seem like a smart way to divert attention away from a serial abductor and murderer, and let the police focus on the club and. a potential serial rapist instead.

| believe there's a very high chance that Wright had been parked up within view of the club, and followed Victoria and her friend as they walked home. Once he saw them part, he may have driven past and then parked up in Faulkeners Way and then simply waited with his car running and door open; just as he had done the night before during his failed attempt.

It seems to me unlikely that he was already randomly parked up on a side road and then a girl just happened to be walking home.

The girl who was raped the weekend before the murder was AFAIK never identified, but it would seem unlikely it was Wright because his primary focus wasn't rape.

A rape, an attempted abduction, and an abduction a murder all in the space of 8 days is bizarre.

 

[Rookie D]

Another interesting point to note is that the Bandbox nightclub seems to have been considered as one of the primary focus points of the initial investigation into Bradshaw.

Victoria had attended the same night the weekend before.

But on that same weekend (a week prior to her abduction and murder) a 19 woman was raped after having spent the evening at the same club. (reported in the Portsmouth Evening News, September 21st 1999)

I haven't been able to find if the rape occurred on the same day, but it certainly was over that same weekend.

Just to confirm that the rape of the 19 year old occurred on the Saturday 11th September, in an alleyway behind the Bandbox nightclub.
(as reported in the Yorkshire Post on September 21st 1999)

This article highlights the pitfalls in assuming that all incidents are linked.

It would seem almost certain that the rape had nothing whatsoever to do with Wright.

But if he knew about it, then it perhaps could have given him some leverage to divert attention.

 

[tes1984]

After the rape, the nightclub hired extra security staff, and warned female patrons not to travel home alone.

Vicky walked home around 2 miles with her friend. They seperated a few hundred yards away from Vicky's house. The journey took quite a long time and they stopped for chips on the way home, so I'm not convinced SW followed them from the nightclub. You never know though.

 

[Rookie D]

After the rape, the nightclub hired extra security staff, and warned female patrons not to travel home alone.

Vicky walked home around 2 miles with her friend. They seperated a few hundred yards away from Vicky's house. The journey took quite a long time and they stopped for chips on the way home, so I'm not convinced SW followed them from the nightclub. You never know though.

I think that Wright never followed from the club, but believe he spotted them as they turned into High Road West.

They had several routes they could have taken, but any route should have brought to High Road West at some point.

Interestingly, if they walked north from the club and continue onward up Hamilton Road, they would eventually have joined the main road at the roundabout where the Orwell hotel is located, before they then turned left and headed west.

This is the same roundabout where Wright had driven around to go back and look for his intended victim on the previous night before he abducted Vicky.

It seems to be the most obvious route the girls took would have been to have walked the length of Hamilton road up to the Orwell Hotel roundabout junction.

Just before they reached the roundabout, they would have walked past the train station.

On that basis it seems likely to me that Wright had either parked up somewhere in close proximity to the train station, or that he drove his vehicle up and down the main High road west, to scout for a potential victim.

This may have been a repeat sequence of the previous night.

That might sound rather bold for Wright to have done, but the fact that Felixstowe police station is located on High Road West, then it seems like he wasn't at all deterred by his previous night's failings during the botched abduction attempt.

The Felixstowe police station located just yards from the Orwell Hotel roundabout and train station respectively.

 

[TheRockingRev]

Just to confirm that the rape of the 19 year old occurred on the Saturday 11th September, in an alleyway behind the Bandbox nightclub.
(as reported in the Yorkshire Post on September 21st 1999)

This article highlights the pitfalls in assuming that all incidents are linked.

It would seem almost certain that the rape had nothing whatsoever to do with Wright.

But if he knew about it, then it perhaps could have given him some leverage to divert attention.

Where are you getting these stories of a rape from? I don't recall hearing this before and both sources you've mentioned seem to be regional newspapers quite some miles away from Felixstowe

 

[TheRockingRev]

I think that Wright never followed from the club, but believe he spotted them as they turned into High Road West.

They had several routes they could have taken, but any route should have brought to High Road West at some point.

Interestingly, if they walked north from the club and continue onward up Hamilton Road, they would eventually have joined the main road at the roundabout where the Orwell hotel is located, before they then turned left and headed west.

This is the same roundabout where Wright had driven around to go back and look for his intended victim on the previous night before he abducted Vicky.

It seems to be the most obvious route the girls took would have been to have walked the length of Hamilton road up to the Orwell Hotel roundabout junction.

Just before they reached the roundabout, they would have walked past the train station.

On that basis it seems likely to me that Wright had either parked up somewhere in close proximity to the train station, or that he drove his vehicle up and down the main High road west, to scout for a potential victim.

This may have been a repeat sequence of the previous night.

That might sound rather bold for Wright to have done, but the fact that Felixstowe police station is located on High Road West, then it seems like he wasn't at all deterred by his previous night's failings during the botched abduction attempt.

The Felixstowe police station located just yards from the Orwell Hotel roundabout and train station respectively.

Living in Felixstowe (born and bred) I would say he likely would've either driven up and down the road, or more likely waited somewhere on route. The train station is set back, and isn't where the girls would've come onto the road from (they came up Garrison Lane). The High Road which is the road they took from Garrison Lane to Trimley is a long, long road and wide in spaces. There's plenty of junctions on it too - so he could've parked up there, watched them go past and then driven ahead.

 

[Rookie D]

Where are you getting these stories of a rape from? I don't recall hearing this before and both sources you've mentioned seem to be regional newspapers quite some miles away from Felixstowe

The rape was reported in at least 4 regional newspapers.

I would upload them but believe that would be in breech of copyright?

Could someone clarify that is indeed correct?

 

[Rookie D]

Living in Felixstowe (born and bred) I would say he likely would've either driven up and down the road, or more likely waited somewhere on route. The train station is set back, and isn't where the girls would've come onto the road from (they came up Garrison Lane). The High Road which is the road they took from Garrison Lane to Trimley is a long, long road and wide in spaces. There's plenty of junctions on it too - so he could've parked up there, watched them go past and then driven ahead.

Ah yes I see, thank you for clarifying that; they walked north up Garrison road before turning left into High Road West.

I agree that he either drove up and down, or waited somewhere on the main road route that meant he could observe any potential victims.

It could also be suggested that one of the reasons why he tried to abduct a victim on two consecutive nights, is because he failed in his attempt the first time.

 

[RichardKimble]

The rape was reported in at least 4 regional newspapers.

I would upload them but believe that would be in breech of copyright?

Could someone clarify that is indeed correct?

Only if behind paywalls.

 

[Rookie D]

Okay, so here's an article from The Scotsman Newspaper from 28th September 1999

It includes the case of the rape of the 19 year old that I referred to previously.

Interestingly, there was another woman who reported having been followed home on the 4th September.

I wonder if this latter incident on the 4th had anything to do with Wright, and if so, whether it indicates a pattern of him stalking the surrounding area over a sustained period of time, rather than just a one-off random attack.




*Note for Admin/Morderator

I hope that it is permitted for me to upload this image?

If it isn't then please remove the post accordingly.


Many thanks

 

[Rookie D]

And this article from the same date; 28th September, and which appeared in the Express, gives the same story, but from the perspective of the 4th September stalker victim...

Note that "Detectives" were apparently at the club on the night Vicky was abducted, to alert people to gets cabs rather than walk home.

(It was actually 2 CID officers who were at the club the same night that Vicky was abducted)

That's particularly haunting.




Saturday 4th - a girl walks home from the Bandbox nightclub and is followed home
Saturday 11th - a girl is raped in an alleyway at the back of the Bandbox nightclub
Saturday 18th - Vicky is abducted by Wright after she has left the Bandbox nightclub


The question is; was Wright the man who followed the girl home on the 4th September after she had left the club?

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019510796967919685

 

[Legally Bland]

Interview with Emily Doherty:

Only surviving victim of 'Suffolk Strangler' Steve Wright says others may have lived if police had taken her seriously

The serial killer attempted to kidnap Emily Doherty in the Suffolk town of Felixstowe in 1999. She told police what had happened but says they treated her like a "silly little girl". The next day, his first murder victim vanished.

news.sky.com

 

[Legally Bland]

Live updates from sentencing:

Steve Wright: Watch as serial killer being sentenced for Victoria Hall's murder in 1999 - follow live

Wright is already serving a whole-life sentence for the murders of five other women near Ipswich in 2006.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Rookie D]

Live updates from sentencing:

Steve Wright: Watch as serial killer being sentenced for Victoria Hall's murder in 1999 - follow live

Wright is already serving a whole-life sentence for the murders of five other women near Ipswich in 2006.

www.bbc.co.uk

This report mentions the woman who said she had been followed home, but is NOT the same woman who is referenced in the article I uploaded in post 251.

This incident occurred on the 16th September


So we have the following...

16th September - An 18 year old woman is walking with her friends around midnight, and after trying to get into the Bandbox Nightclub (which is closed for a private event) they then walk north and up into town. A man who follows them after they notice him sitting on a bench and watching them. They reach the Orwell Hotel Roundabout on High Road East. The man suddenly reappears and they scream and run t get a taxi. They are certain it was Wright.

17th September - Wright attempts to abduct 22 year old Emily Doherty, after she leaves the Bandbox nightclub and walks towards her home. She turns into Picketts Road and encounters Wright who has his car running and driver door open. She runs, scales a wall and hides. She then waits and then peaks around a corner, only to see Wright virtually upon her. He says "All right" in a deep voice. Emily manages to run and evade him, while Wright returns to his car. Emily hides for up to FORTY minutes as she hears and sees Wright driving around. At one stage he is seen driving up to the Orwell Hotel roundabout on High Road East, before he doubles back and tries to find Emily again. Emily manages to escape his clutches.

18th September - Vicky Hall is abducted and murdered by Wright as she walks along Faulkeners Way, after having left the Bandbox nightclub with her friend. It is at least the 3rd night in a row whereby Wright has attempted to at least stalk a victim.
It could be said that the 16th September was a practice run of what was to come.


Also, on the 4th September, ANOTHER woman was followed home after having had a night out in Felixstowe. She hasn't been mentioned in any recent articles or press releases. IMO, this sounds as though this may have also been Wright.

And then we have the rape of a woman in an alleyway behind the Bandbox nightclub on the weekend before Vicky was murdered. This is likely to be unconnected with Wright, but it still has a link to the very same nightclub.


So that's a woman followed on the 4th, a group of girls followed on the 16th, an attempted abduction and game of cat and mouse on the 17th, and then an abduction and murder on the 18th, as well as the rape on the 11th.


I mean, if that's not a pattern, then OI don't know what is.


This doesn't paint the Suffolk police in a very good light.

They clearly didn't take the stalking incidents that occurred before the murder seriously at all.


Shameful policing practice yet again.

 

[Legally Bland]

Steve Wright sentencedpublished at 14:15
14:15Breaking​

Serial killer Steve Wright, already serving whole-life term, jailed for 40 years for 1999 kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall.

Steve Wright: Watch as serial killer being sentenced for Victoria Hall's murder in 1999 - follow live

Wright is already serving a whole-life sentence for the murders of five other women near Ipswich in 2006.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[wtiger]

might as well be 4000 years - he wont give a damn at this point

too late and too little thanks to another botched investigation by blinkered police ignoring facts with a one-track agenda to get a crime off their books

 

[tes1984]

I can't think of many more prolific living UK killers than SW.

Bruce Lee, Rose West, Kenneth Erskine.. anyone else with more than 6 victims?

I'm surprised SW didn't get a second whole life tariff, like Levi Bellfield got when he was convicted of murdering Millie Dowler.

 

[KarenUK]

I am open minded, but had discounted Steven Wright due to the gap between Vicky's murder and the five girls in Ipswich, he went on such a quick spree in that few weeks I couldn't imagine him killing one girl, pausing for a few years and going mad. I wonder about Peter Tobin too, but if there was a clear link between Vicky Hall and some known killers wouldn't the police have made more of it?
Did the police give up after the not guilty verdict? Too many questions!
*I'm feeling slightly faint that a writer who I have admired has replied to my thread. And about to keel over from embarassment that I said "Femail" in my first post.....

Well what an idiot I am!

 

[elliefant]

Well what an idiot I am!

Not at all. And also he may well not have paused between Vicky and the others so your reasoning would be correct!