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Wright 'lived in red light area' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
A woman disappeared from a red light district less than two weeks after the man accused of her murder started picking up prostitutes, a court heard. | |
Steve Wright, 49, told Ipswich Crown Court he began using street prostitutes when he moved into a flat in Ipswich's red light district in October 2006. | |
Later that month 19-year-old Tania Nicol went missing and her body was found in December. | |
Mr Wright denies the murder of five women, who all worked as prostitutes. | |
The naked bodies of Miss Nicol and Paula Clennell, 24, Anneli Alderton, 24, Gemma Adams, 25, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006. | |
I didn't feel good about myself, obviously... it's a situation I got myself in Steve Wright | |
Mr Wright said that he did not feel good about deceiving his partner, Pam Wright, by using the services of prostitutes. | |
The defendant, who began giving evidence in his trial on Thursday, told the court he and his partner, whose maiden name is also Wright, moved into a flat in the red light district of Ipswich on 1 October, 2006. | |
He said Ms Wright did not know that he went to prostitutes. | He said Ms Wright did not know that he went to prostitutes. |
"If she found out, she would probably have left me," the 49-year-old said. | "If she found out, she would probably have left me," the 49-year-old said. |
"I didn't feel good about myself, obviously. It's a situation I got myself in." | "I didn't feel good about myself, obviously. It's a situation I got myself in." |
The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Mr Wright said he first used prostitutes while serving in the Merchant Navy about 25 years ago. | The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Mr Wright said he first used prostitutes while serving in the Merchant Navy about 25 years ago. |
"Because it was a young crew on the QE2, it was quite normal really," he said. | "Because it was a young crew on the QE2, it was quite normal really," he said. |
He was also asked if he used prostitutes when he went on a trip to Thailand to which he said yes. | |
Earlier, defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006. | Earlier, defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006. |
'Under stress | 'Under stress |
Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell. | Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell. |
Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?" | Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?" |
Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was." | Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was." |
Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had when he had "become under stress". | Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had when he had "become under stress". |
Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and came over faint and passed out. | Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and came over faint and passed out. |
The defendant also told the court details about his background and how he came to be in Ipswich. | |
Financial difficulties | Financial difficulties |
He had been born in Norfolk and after his parents divorced he was brought up by a mixture of his father, mother and grandparents. | |
Mr Wright, whose father was an RAF policeman, said he left school at 16 with no qualifications and began working in a hotel in Suffolk before joining the Merchant Navy when he was 17. | |
He worked on the QE2 for about six years and during this time he met his first wife. | He worked on the QE2 for about six years and during this time he met his first wife. |
After being made redundant by the Merchant Navy, Mr Wright worked in various pubs before he got into financial difficulties. | After being made redundant by the Merchant Navy, Mr Wright worked in various pubs before he got into financial difficulties. |
Around this time, he went to Thailand for about 10 weeks and came back in further financial trouble. He then made himself bankrupt. | Around this time, he went to Thailand for about 10 weeks and came back in further financial trouble. He then made himself bankrupt. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |