Woman's narrow escape from serial killer Steve Wright

A woman who was stalked by serial killer Steve Wright armed herself with a stick and hid during a terrifying close encounter, it can now be reported.

Emily Doherty was walking home from a nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in the early hours of 18 September 1999 when Wright attempted to snatch her.

Twenty six years later, Wright, 67, admitted attempting to kidnap Emily as well as the kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall at a hearing at the Old Bailey.

The court heard during an earlier hearing how Emily, then a 22-year-old, was able to sprint away from Wright and seek refuge in a nearby home. The incident happened just the day before Victoria's disappearance.

It is not known when the incident was reported to Suffolk Police or when the information was first acted on. Police have yet to comment.

Wright is already serving a whole-life term behind bars for murdering five other women in and around Ipswich in December 2006.

They were Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.

Emily's account of what happened was heard at an earlier court hearing for Wright at the Old Bailey last June.

It was attended by the BBC and can now be reported for the first time.

Wright's legal team had argued that there was insufficient evidence of an attempted kidnap, but a judge ruled against them.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC argued Emily had been frightened by her encounter with Wright.

The court heard how she had split from her friends near High Road East before coming across a parked car in Picketts Road, which had the driver's door open and engine running.

The Old Bailey heard she saw Wright and initially thought he was urinating, but then became spooked by "the way he looked at her".

She ran away, grabbed a stick and hid in a garden on her hands and knees.

"The car then leaves Picketts Road and turns into the next road, Park Avenue, a cul-de-sac, giving a clear indication that this individual is seeking to remain close," Ledward said.

"She hides, crouches down in another hiding place and he comes looking for her; he comes very close to her and as he gets nearer says, 'All right?'."

Ledward said Wright was "close enough to grab her but too far from his car to bundle her in".

She added: "He must be weighing up what force would be required in order to complete his intention to kidnap."

The court was told Emily sprinted away and hid, while Wright continued his pursuit.

It was said he drove his car to a roundabout near the Orwell Hotel, turned around and drove past her next hiding place "at least another three times back and forth".

Ledward continued: "It's clear he is looking for her and is creating the opportunity he can successfully grab her."

The encounter ended after she was invited inside by a homeowner concerned for her safety.

The judge Mr Justice Bennathan ruled by approaching the girl on foot it inferred Wright "crossed the line between [kidnap] preparation and attempt".

He added: "Those actions could be described or found to be embarking on the crime."

Wright was charged with the offences back in 2024 and initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea on Monday.

Victoria, from Trimley St Mary, who was kidnapped and murdered, had been at the Bandbox nightclub on 19 September 1999 before she went missing.

Her naked body was found five days later in a ditch 25 miles (40km) away in Creeting St Peter.

A businessman from Felixstowe was initially tried for her murder in 2001, but he was later found not guilty, after just 90 minutes of deliberation, by a jury at Norwich Crown Court.

Suffolk Police reopened its investigation into Victoria's murder in 2019 on the 20th anniversary of her disappearance.

After Monday's hearing the force said it was pleased to have been able to deliver justice for Victoria and Emily.

Wright is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.