Surviving Victim of Suffolk Strangler Accuses Police of Fatal Negligence
The sole surviving victim of notorious serial killer Steve Wright, known as the "Suffolk strangler," has made a devastating claim: that multiple murdered women could still be alive today if police had taken her abduction report seriously in 1999. Emily Doherty, who was 22 at the time, narrowly escaped Wright's attempt to kidnap her in Felixstowe, Suffolk, just one day before he murdered his sixth victim, teenager Victoria Hall.
A Chilling Night and a Dismissive Response
In her first media interview, Ms Doherty recounted the terrifying early hours of September 18, 1999, when she was targeted by Wright. She described a car repeatedly passing her on High Road East, Felixstowe, before the driver parked and approached her. "He stepped right into me. He said 'alright' in a low, sleazy way. In that instance, I knew my life was in danger," she told Sky News. After a frantic 40-minute ordeal of hiding and knocking on doors, a couple finally let her in and called emergency services.
However, the police response left her feeling worse. "The police came, but they didn't believe me at all," she said. "They said: 'Come on, how much have you had to drink tonight?'" Despite providing part of a number plate and offering to make a formal statement, officers dismissed her concerns, treating her like "a silly little girl." She was given a lift home with minimal investigation.
The Aftermath: A Serial Killer's Rampage
The following day, September 19, 1999, 17-year-old Victoria Hall was kidnapped and murdered by Wright. Her body was discovered five days later in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, approximately 25 miles from where she was last seen. Ms Doherty, who had traveled to India, was contacted by police but claims her follow-up statement was inadequately pursued. "That was the last I heard ever about it," she stated, expressing profound survivor's guilt.
With Wright remaining at large, the Ipswich area endured six weeks of terror in 2006 when he murdered five more women: Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls. Wright was convicted in 2008 for these killings and received a whole-life sentence. On Monday, he dramatically changed his plea, admitting to the murder of Victoria Hall and the attempted kidnap of Ms Doherty.
Sentencing and Police Accountability
Wright, now 67, will be sentenced for Ms Hall's murder by Mr Justice Bennathan at the Old Bailey. Suffolk Police declined to comment on evidential matters prior to sentencing, stating they will issue a statement afterward. Ms Doherty's allegations highlight critical questions about police handling of early reports and their potential role in preventing further tragedies. "You can't help thinking, if they had taken me seriously, Vicky could have survived, but certainly if they had found him sooner the five other women would still be here," she lamented, underscoring the enduring grief and burden carried by survivors of such failures.
