A MAN has appeared in courted charged with the murder of a Suffolk 17-year-old, killed after a night out in Felixstowe in 1999.

Following the reopening of an investigation by Suffolk Police, detectives believe Steve Wright, 66, previously of London Road, Ipswich, is guilty of the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall.

She was last seen alive in High Road, Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, on 19 September, 1999.

Five days into searches for her, Victoria's naked body was found by a dog walker in a ditch beside a field on Creeting Lane, Creeting St Peter, about 25 miles (40km) from where she was last seen.

20 years after her death police announced they would be fully reinvestigating the case with new detectives in September 2019.

Steve Wright

Wright, a former forklift truck driver, has also been charged with one count of attempted kidnap in connection with a separate incident the night before Victoria's disappearance.

This morning (Monday, 3 June), he appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court via video link from HMP Long Lartin and is due to appear again at Ipswich Crown Court later.

Suffolk Police said Victoria was just yards away from her home in Trimley when she disappeared.

She had been at Bandbox nightclub in neighbouring Felixstowe with a friend. They separated about 2.20am.

Wright has also been charged with the unlawful kidnap of Ms Hall - by force or fraud before being taken or carried away against her will.