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Arrested man 'had Huntley fears' Tania 'seen' after meeting Wright
(about 1 hour later)
A man arrested on suspicion of killing five women said he contacted police because "he did not want to be seen as another Ian Huntley", a court heard. Two women have said they saw Tania Nicol after she is alleged to have encountered a man accused of killing her and four others, a court heard.
Tom Stephens was freed without charge after being questioned by detectives. Prosecutors said CCTV showing a woman by Steve Wright's car at 2300 GMT on 30 October 2006 was probably the last sighting of the 19-year-old.
Evidence about Mr Stephens has been presented at Ipswich Crown Court by the defence team of Steve Wright, 49, who denies murdering five women. But a petrol station cashier and Royal Mail worker told the court they saw Ms Nicol later on 30 and 31 October.
Annette Nicholls, Paula Clennell, Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams and Anneli Alderton were all found dead in December 2006. Mr Wright, 49, denies the murder of the women at Ipswich Crown Court.
The bodies of the women, who all worked as prostitutes, were found in around Ipswich over a 10-day period. Miss Nicol, Annette Nicholls, 29, Paula Clennell, 24, Gemma Adams, 25 and Anneli Alderton, 24, were all found dead in December 2006.
Seen on phone
The naked bodies of the women were found in and around Ipswich over a 10-day period.
Petrol station cashier Kerry Land told the court she sold a chocolate bar to Miss Nicol "some time after 11.30pm" on the 30 October - a transaction that was not captured on CCTV.
Royal Mail worker Helen Brooks also told jurors she saw the 19-year-old in the Ipswich red light district, at about 0340 GMT on 31 October, talking on a mobile phone.
"The person I saw that morning was Tania Nicol," Ms Brooks said.
Jurors had earlier heard that Mr Wright's car was caught on camera heading out of Ipswich on 31 October at about 0139 GMT.
Detectives said he was heading to Copdock where Miss Nicol's body was later found.
'Split personality''Split personality'
Evidence about a man arrested on suspicion of the murder of the five women was also presented to the court by Mr Wright's defence team.
Tom Stephens, aged in his late 30s, was freed without charge after being questioned by detectives.
The court heard Mr Stephens would do jobs for prostitutes in return for sex.The court heard Mr Stephens would do jobs for prostitutes in return for sex.
Jurors also heard Mr Stephens told police that if he had been the killer he would have strangled the women. Jurors also heard he told police that if he had been the killer he would have strangled the women.
Mark Fenhalls, a member of the defence team, told the court how Mr Stephens was interviewed by police about his knowledge of all the women following his arrest on 18 December 2006.Mark Fenhalls, a member of the defence team, told the court how Mr Stephens was interviewed by police about his knowledge of all the women following his arrest on 18 December 2006.
He was arrested after he had phoned police saying he was worried about whether he had a "split personality" and whether he was "doing things which he doesn't know about, then going back to his normal personality", the court heard.He was arrested after he had phoned police saying he was worried about whether he had a "split personality" and whether he was "doing things which he doesn't know about, then going back to his normal personality", the court heard.
He had warned them that if they went out to work then one of them would be murdered Mark FenhallsHe had warned them that if they went out to work then one of them would be murdered Mark Fenhalls
Mr Fenhalls said: "Topics covered included last sightings of him on CCTV in the (Ipswich) red-light area, his knowledge of the deposition sites, his movements in the week before his arrest and his interviews with journalists.
"He was arrested and cautioned. He made no reply,"
Mr Fenhalls said police had not been able to establish an alibi for Mr Stephens for any of the nights the women were said to have disappeared.Mr Fenhalls said police had not been able to establish an alibi for Mr Stephens for any of the nights the women were said to have disappeared.
DNA samples from Mr Stephens were taken and analysed and his home and car forensically examined.DNA samples from Mr Stephens were taken and analysed and his home and car forensically examined.
"On 21 November Tom Stephens called the police and said he did not want to be seen as another Ian Huntley and wanted to help police," said Mr Fenhalls."On 21 November Tom Stephens called the police and said he did not want to be seen as another Ian Huntley and wanted to help police," said Mr Fenhalls.
"Some time after 8pm on 11 December Tom Stephens... spoke to police about the deceased women."Some time after 8pm on 11 December Tom Stephens... spoke to police about the deceased women.
"He said the 'girls were all on drugs and would do anything for drugs'."He said the 'girls were all on drugs and would do anything for drugs'.
"He continued '... if it had been me, I would have strangled them'.""He continued '... if it had been me, I would have strangled them'."
Massage parloursMassage parlours
Police first encountered Mr Stephens when they spoke to him in October 2006 because his car was in the red light district. He told them he was waiting for a friend. On 12 October police stopped Mr Stephens in his car with Miss Nicol, who he said he was giving a lift to.
On 12 October they stopped him in his car with Miss Nicol, who he said he was giving a lift to.
"Tom Stephens said his arrangement with Tania Nicol was that he would do small jobs for her in return for sexual favours," said Mr Fenhalls."Tom Stephens said his arrangement with Tania Nicol was that he would do small jobs for her in return for sexual favours," said Mr Fenhalls.
"He saw her five to six times a week. He had similar arrangements with other girls but Tania Nicol was the most reliable and honest.""He saw her five to six times a week. He had similar arrangements with other girls but Tania Nicol was the most reliable and honest."
He contacted police on 1 November, following Miss Nicol's disappearance, to say he had confidential information about her disappearance, and made further calls until 9 November when he was made the subject of surveillance. He contacted police on 1 November to say he had confidential information about Miss Nicol's disappearance, and made further calls until 9 November when he was made the subject of surveillance.
On a visit to police on 16 November he told them the prostitutes he knew had 'such an overwhelming addiction to drugs that they would take irrational risks', Mr Fenhalls said. The court was also told Mr Stephens made an offer to "glean information" for the police from massage parlours, which was rejected, and neighbours reported him "hoovering his car in wet weather".
"He had warned them that if they went out to work then one of them would be murdered."
The court was also told he made an offer to "glean information" for the police from massage parlours, which was rejected, and neighbours reported him "hoovering his car in wet weather".
Rape claimRape claim
He also spent time with a BBC journalist at a Suffolk pub and the following day told police in the red light district he was concerned DNA evidence might be found in his car. He also spent time with a BBC journalist at a pub and the following day told police in the red light district he was concerned DNA evidence might be found in his car.
On 14 December he told his employers that he "had sex with all five girls and acted as a taxi service for all of them". Mr Stephens told police he had contemplated suicide when a national newspaper named him as a suspect.
Mr Stephens told police he had contemplated suicide when he attended a police station carrying a copy of a national newspaper which named him as a suspect.
The court also heard Annette Nicholls, one of the murdered women, told police she was raped during the summer of 2006.The court also heard Annette Nicholls, one of the murdered women, told police she was raped during the summer of 2006.
Jurors were told a man was arrested on suspicion of rape in November 2006 but made no comment when questioned and the crime was marked "undetected" after Miss Nicholls body was found on 12 December.Jurors were told a man was arrested on suspicion of rape in November 2006 but made no comment when questioned and the crime was marked "undetected" after Miss Nicholls body was found on 12 December.
Mr Fenhalls said the allegation had nothing to do with Mr Wright or Mr Stephens.Mr Fenhalls said the allegation had nothing to do with Mr Wright or Mr Stephens.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday.The trial was adjourned until Thursday.