Serial Killer Steve Wright Sentenced For 1999 Murder

In a courtroom filled with tension and sorrow, the notorious serial killer Steve Wright was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years for the kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, as well as the attempted abduction of Emily Doherty—crimes that occurred more than 25 years ago in the quiet Suffolk town of Felixstowe. The verdict, handed down at the Old Bailey on February 6, 2026, marks the first time Wright, now 67, has publicly admitted to any of his murders, bringing a measure of long-awaited justice to the families—though, as many noted, it comes far too late for some.

Wright, already serving a whole life term for the infamous 2006 murders of five women in Ipswich, was described by Mr Justice Bennathan as having been "on the prowl" in Felixstowe in September 1999. According to BBC News, the judge told Wright, "For reasons only you know, you snatched her away and you crushed that young life." The sentencing, while largely symbolic given Wright's existing whole life order, was deemed necessary by the court to acknowledge the pain and loss suffered by Victoria's family and the surviving victim, Emily Doherty.

The events of that fateful weekend in 1999 have haunted Felixstowe ever since. On the night of September 18, Emily Doherty, then 22, was walking home from the Bandbox nightclub with friends. As detailed in her first media interview with Sky News, Emily recounted a chilling encounter: "There was this car going backwards and forwards past me, loitering... He was just standing by the car. He saw me and I saw him." The encounter quickly escalated as Wright pursued her relentlessly for nearly 40 minutes, forcing her to flee, jump over walls, and knock on strangers' doors for help. "In that instance, I knew my life was in danger. I just knew. The adrenaline kicked in," she recalled.

Despite her terror and the clear details she provided—including part of the car's number plate—Emily says police dismissed her. "They treated me like a silly little girl," she told Sky News. Officers questioned her sobriety, failed to take a proper statement, and ultimately told her to "forget about it." The following day, Victoria Hall disappeared while walking home from the same nightclub. She was last seen alive by her friend Gemma Algar at around 1:00 a.m. on September 19, 1999. Neighbors later reported hearing two high-pitched screams and a car speeding away. Five days later, Victoria's naked body was found in a ditch near Creeting St Peter, 25 miles from Felixstowe. Expert evidence revealed she had been asphyxiated within hours of her abduction and sexually assaulted.

The pain of these events was compounded by what many see as missed opportunities by the authorities. Emily, who left for India the day after her ordeal, was contacted by police only after Victoria's disappearance. She provided a statement over the phone from the Himalayas but, as she told Sky News, any follow-up—such as producing an e-fit image—never materialized. "That was the last I heard ever about it," she said. The sense of being ignored has left Emily carrying what she calls "survivor's guilt," lamenting, "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."

The tragedy deepened in 2006 when Wright, still at large, murdered five women in Ipswich: Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls. The killings sent shockwaves through the community as the bodies, all found in rural locations, were discovered over a harrowing six-week period. Wright was arrested on December 21, 2006, and convicted in February 2008, receiving a whole life sentence for those murders. Yet Victoria Hall's case remained unsolved for two more decades.

What finally brought justice to Victoria's family was the advance of forensic science. DNA swabs taken from Victoria’s body in 1999 were linked to Wright, whose DNA had been on the national database since 2001. According to BBC News, it was only recent improvements in scientific analysis that provided the crucial evidence connecting Wright to the crime. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC referenced the possibility of an inquiry into missed opportunities by Suffolk Police, stating, "A decision will be made by Suffolk Police as to the format and ambit of any inquiry following the hearing."

During sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan addressed Wright directly, stating, "Even if this were your only life sentence, given your obvious dangerousness and your age, it is extraordinarily unlikely you would ever be released. Given the sentence already imposed for your other dreadful crimes, it is well nigh certain you will die in prison." The sentences for Victoria’s murder (life with a minimum of 40 years), her kidnap (12 years), and the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty (nine years) are to run concurrently.

For the Hall family, the verdict was bittersweet. Victoria’s father, Graham Hall, expressed sadness that his late wife, Lorinda, who died in December 2025, did not live to see Wright finally brought to justice. "Victoria was a loving girl with her whole life before her, with plans of what she wanted to achieve. All of this was snatched away by Steve Wright," he said outside the court. The judge also noted that Wright’s delayed guilty plea meant Lorinda passed away without knowing her daughter's killer had been held accountable.

Emily Doherty’s victim impact statement, read in court, was a stark reminder of the trauma inflicted not only by Wright but by the system meant to protect her. She said, "I have never been so scared in my life. I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. I had never ran so fast or jumped over walls like that." She added, "To this day, I am furious. I wasn't taken serious. I was made to feel like a silly little girl. They told me to forget all about it." The judge acknowledged that Emily had been left with lifelong anxieties and an unjust sense of guilt for not being more insistent with the police.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick of Suffolk Police commended the Hall family for their resilience and recognized the impact on Emily. "I am glad we have been able to provide answers and a sense of justice delivered," he said, while also noting Wright’s attempts to cover his tracks, including selling his car after the crime. Despite this, the overwhelming evidence left Wright with "no alternative" but to plead guilty, Connick added.

As the dust settles on this decades-long saga, the wounds left by Steve Wright’s crimes remain raw for many. The case has prompted calls for a thorough review of police procedures and the handling of victims' reports, especially those from women whose concerns have too often been dismissed. For Emily Doherty, the burden of survivor’s guilt is heavy, but her voice may yet help ensure that future victims are believed—and protected—before tragedy strikes again.

Justice, delayed though it was, has finally been served for Victoria Hall and her family. But for those left behind, the questions—and the pain—linger on.