Father of murder accused speaks out

THEY have not seen each other for four years - but Conrad Wright says he will instantly know if his son killed five Ipswich prostitutes when he looks him in the eye.

The 70-year-old has been left searching for answers following the five murder charges against Steve Wright, of London Road, Ipswich.

The 48-year-old forklift truck driver has been accused of murdering Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.

Now his father is planning to visit his son in the top security Belmarsh Prison to decide for himself whether he is guilty.

Speaking from his Felixstowe home said: “I would like to go to see him and, in future, I will. I'll look him in the eye and I feel sure I will know if he has done it.

“But I want him to contact me first and make the approach. I'm going to wait and see what he does."

Mr Wright, who served in the RAF, said he has not fallen out with his son, despite not seeing him for so many years.

When Wright lived alone in a block of flats, near to his father's semi-detached Felixstowe home, the pair would often go out drinking.

But they drifted apart when Wright moved to Bell Close, Ipswich to live with his common-law wife, Pamela.

Mr Wright said: “I would go to see him when he lived in the flats. We would go down the pub for a drink and get a Chinese on the way home.

“But then the next thing I knew he had moved to Ipswich. That was at least four years ago. I haven't seen him at all since then. He did his own thing.

“I always thought I was on good terms with him and there was never any falling out. We're like most families - we only meet up at weddings and funerals.”

Mr Wright, who is well known in the Suffolk cricket scene, was not aware of his son's initial arrest in connection with the five murders until he was approached by a national newspaper journalist. Now he wants to find out more information, which has prompted his planned prison visit.

Wright was born in 1958 in Erpingham, Norfolk, and was brought up at RAF West Beckham. His father lived at the base with his then wife Patricia. The couple had four children together.

In the early 1980s, the family moved to Felixstowe, where Mr Wright worked as a docks policeman. He now lives in Felixstowe with his second wife, Valerie.

Mr Wright said his son had a happy childhood and once worked on the QE2. He also ran pubs in Haverhill, London, Southend and Norwich.

Mr Wright said: “He's quiet and wouldn't say boo to a goose. He didn't have any real interests but used to play golf with his brother now and again.”

Wright has been married twice and has two grown-up children, who live in London and Wales. He is a member of Seckford Golf Club, near Woodbridge and was known to drink in Uncle Tom's Cabin, near to his former Bell Close home.

Mr Wright said he had been touched by the support his family had received since his son was charged with the five murders.

“All the friends we have round here say there is no way he is responsible," he said.

“There hasn't been an adverse reaction to me. I've had cards from people and everyone has been supportive. I can't find anyone who believes it. I still think something isn't right.”

n Steve Wright has been charged with murdering Miss Adams, 25, Miss Nicol, 19, Miss Alderton, 24, Miss Clennell, 24, and Miss Nicholls, 29. Their bodies were found in locations on the outskirts of Ipswich between December 2 and 12. Wright is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on May 1.