14/12/2006

Clothes and driver sought in Suffolk Strangler case

Suffolk Police have announced that their inquires are currently focused on the whereabouts of the women's clothing. All were found naked, and police are trying to ascertain if certain items found belonged to the victims.

Following what police described as a "massive" response to their appeal for information over the killings of three prostitutes and the suspected murders of two others, police are trying to trace the driver of a blue BMW car that Annelie Alderton was seen getting into.

On Wednesday police said that over 2,000 calls had been received from members of the public.

The bodies of Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19 - both from Ipswich - and 24-year-old Anneli Alderton from Colchester, Essex, were all found near Ipswich this month. All the women had worked as prostitutes in Ipswich.

The body of Ms Adams, who disappeared on November 15, was found first, in a brook at Thorpes Hill, Hintlesham on December 2. The body of Ms Nicol, who was reported missing on November 1, was discovered on December 8, near Copdock Mill, two miles from where Ms Adams' body was discovered.

Post-mortems could not establish the cause of death in each case, although they did reveal that neither woman had been sexually assaulted.

Ms Alderton's body was discovered in woodland near Nacton, a few miles further east, on December 10. She had not been seen since December 3. A post-mortem revealed that she had been strangled.

Two other bodies were discovered off the Old Felixstowe Road at Levington in Suffolk on Tuesday afternoon. They have not been formally identified, but it is feared that they are Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, two prostitutes who are also missing. Both of the victim's bodies have now been moved to Ipswich Hospital for a post mortem and initial results are expected later today (Thursday).

Yesterday, the 'News Of The World' offered a £250,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the Suffolk Strangler.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Suffolk Police on: 0800 096 1011.

(SP/EF)

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