A CORONER offered his condolences to the families of five women who were murdered in Suffolk as he opened and adjourned inquests into four of the women's deaths.

A CORONER offered his condolences to the families of five women who were murdered in Suffolk as he opened and adjourned inquests into four of the women's deaths.

The inquest into Tania Nicol, 19, Annelie Alderton, 24, Paul Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were all opened today at the Ipswich Crown Court.

Greater Suffolk coroner Peter Dean said: “I would want to pay tribute to the difficult and detailed work being conducted by officers in Suffolk and their colleagues all over the country working together to investigate these deaths.”

He said the opening of the inquests were delayed from the beginning of the week “due to developments” in the case.

He added: “I would like to offer my condolences to the families and everyone close to these women on their loss in these difficult circumstances.”

Detective superintendent Andy Henwood told the court the details of each of the women, stating when the women were last seen, were reported as missing to the police and how their bodies were found.

He said: “Annelie Anderton was found on December 10 at about 3.20pm by a member of public travelling down The Street, in Nacton, who saw the body of a naked woman.

“Due to the number of tattoos on her body an early assumption was made it was Annelie. She was formally identified later in Ipswich Hospital.”

When talking about Annette Nicholls he said: “On Monday, December 11, she was reported to police as a missing person having last been seen by her mother on December 4.”

Mr Henwood added: “The murder of five young women in such circumstances and over a short period of time is unique not only to Suffolk but over the whole country.”

The inquests were adjourned and will be continued at a later date.

The inquest for Gemma Adams has been opened and adjourned previously.