Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Now that today's court hearing has finished, our live coverage will be coming to a close.

You can read more about Steve Wright's sentencing for the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall as well as the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty in our story here.

Wright, who is already serving a whole-life term, begins another sentence today.

Following the judge's sentencing remarks, Victoria Hall's father, Graham Hall, spoke outside court alongside his son Steven.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Serial killer Steve Wright has been sentenced for the kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall as well as the attempted kidnap of 22-year-old Emily Doherty in September 1999.

The 67-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey in London after previously changing his plea to guilty at the same court on Monday.

During the sentencing we heard that Victoria was a fun, high-spirited girl and had been enjoying a night out in Felixstowe with her friend Gemma Algar when she disappeared.

When Victoria's disappearance hit the news, Wright's colleagues asked for his thoughts on what happened to her. He replied: "You do not want to know."

Her body was found days later. The Crown Prosecution Service released CCTV footage which it says shows Wright at a nearby petrol station shop after the murder.

The hearing was also told that the night before Victoria's disappearance, Doherty had been on a night out in the same area of Felixstowe when she was followed by Wright in his car.

In her victim impact statement, she said she had "never been so scared in my life" and went on to have "survivor's guilt".

Wright had been "on the prowl" across that weekend and it was likely he would have killed Doherty had she not got away, the judge said.

Statements from Victoria's family read to the court heard how "whatever the sentence, nothing can change what we had to deal with on a daily basis".

Wright was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 40 years.

He is already serving a whole-life term for the murders of five women in and around Ipswich in 2006.

The judge told him he would die in prison.

Here is the moment Mr Justice Bennathan told Wright he would be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

While some questions about the investigation into Wright have been answered during today's sentencing hearing, there are some the police are yet to answer.

As Det Ch Insp Matthew Connick walked away from reporters after his statement outside court, a journalist was heard asking if police had "failed the women by not catching him earlier".

Police didn't take any questions from reporters today, but comments from the judge during the hearing suggest they will have plenty to answer in the coming days and weeks.

The biggest being could these murders have been prevented?

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Image source, Brian Farmer/BBC

Samantha Woolley, a specialist prosecutor who led the Crown Prosecution Service case against Wright, speaks with reporters outside the Old Bailey and says the message from them "could not be clearer".

"We will relentlessly pursue justice for victims and families, no matter how many years or decades have passed. Time is no barrier.

"Our thoughts today remain with those who loved and cherished Victoria and with everyone whose lives have been affected by that devastating loss.

"We also hold in mind Emily Doherty and her family who continue to feel the impact of her ordeal.

"We stand with each of them at this incredibly difficult time."

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

"Whilst this was a guilty plea, this was not an early guilty plea," Det Ch Insp Matthew Connick continues to tell journalists outside the Old Bailey.

"Steve Wright made significant attempts to cover his tracks up after the offence.

"He was interviewed twice by police over the course of two years whilst the investigation developed and was in the court system for 21 months with legal hearings challenging the evidence.

"He was forced into a position where he had no alternative but to plead guilty to all three offences, with the weight of evidence against him."

Alice Cunningham
Reporting at the Old Bailey

Det Ch Insp Matthew Connick, of Suffolk Police, has said Victoria Hall had "her whole life ahead of her" and the "appalling crime" had an impact on a huge amount of people.

He commended Victoria's dad and brother for their resilience and made mention of Emily Doherty.

"Special mention must be given to Emily, at the time a 22-year-old woman who narrowly escaped the depraved actions of this man the night before Victoria was taken," he told reporters outside court.

"We do not underestimate the impact that this night has had on her and continues to do so.

"I am glad we have been able to provide answers and a sense of justice delivered."

Doherty said earlier in her victim impact statement she did not feel the police had taken her seriously at the time.

Outside the court, Victoria Hall's father Graham Hall has spoken of his upset that his wife didn't get to see their daughter's killer brought to justice. She died in December.

"Unfortunately my wife Lorinda has not lived to see this day but she did know it was probably Steve Wright," he said.

"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."

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Wright's sentencing heard police had re-examined samples recovered during the post-mortem examination of Victoria Hall.

One of the tests, which can detect tiny fragments of DNA, found male DNA that matched the profile of Wright.

A forensic pathologist concluded there was evidence that Victoria's killer was the same offender responsible for the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006, of which Wright was convicted.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

During today's sentencing we learnt more information on how the police were able to charge Wright with murder, kidnap and attempted kidnap.

Emily Doherty, who he tried to kidnap on 18 September 1999, was able to describe a vehicle and part of its number plate following the incident.

Investigators were then able to whittle down and eliminate similar cars in the area to just two, one of which belonged to Wright.

Doherty's description largely matched Wright's Ford Granada, which he sold 10 days after murdering Victoria - the court heard earlier.

It was noted at the time of her kidnap and Emily's attempted abduction that a distinctive noise came from the car's exhaust as it fled the scene on each occasion.

Image source, Crown Prosecution Service

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has just released new CCTV images which they believe show Wright hours after he kidnapped and murdered 17-year-old Victoria Hall.

The pictures were captured at a petrol station five miles away from where he dumped her body in Creeting St Peter, at about 06:15 BST on 19 September 1999.

Victoria was last seen alive at about 02:20 that morning by her best friend Gemma Algar.

The CPS says the CCTV footage was examined by two facial comparison experts who separately, and using different reference images, compared the stills to photographs of Wright.

Both experts concluded it was "more than probable" the man in the CCTV was Wright.

Court artist Julia Quenzler has released a sketch showing how Wright appeared during the judge's sentencing remarks.

Our reporter Alice Cunningham described Wright as "looking straight at the judge" as his fate was revealed.

Image source, Julia Quenzler

Brian Farmer
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Image source, Brian Farmer/BBC

A large press pack has formed outside the Old Bailey as we wait to hear statements from the police and Victoria Hall's family.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Samantha Woolley, a specialist prosecutor who led the Crown Prosecution Case against Wright, says the serial killer does not deserve any further attention.

"Quite simply, he represents the very worst of humanity and I hope he will now be forgotten," she says.

“This outcome should make plain that time does not preclude a successful prosecution; we will doggedly pursue justice for the victims of non-recent crimes, no matter how many decades have passed."

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

This is the full sentence handed to Steve Wright by Mr Justice Bennathan:

• for the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, nine years in prison;
• for the kidnap of Victoria Hall, 12 years in prison; and
• for her murder, life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years

The sentences will run concurrently.

Wright is already serving a whole-life term for the murders of five women in and around Ipswich in 2006.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

The judge ends his speech with an instruction to Wright - "you can go now".

Wright has been removed from the court and Mr Justice Bennathan has also now left.

The hearing has come to and end, but we are expecting to hear statements from the police outside the court shortly.

Brian Farmer
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Mr Justice Bennathan tells Wright: "Given the sentence already imposed for your other dreadful crimes it is well nigh certain you will die in prison."

Serial killer Steve Wright, already serving a whole-life term, is jailed for 40 years for the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall in 1999.

Alice Cunningham
Reporting from the Old Bailey

Wright is looking straight at the judge as Mr Justice Bennathan delivers his sentencing remarks, detailing what has shaped his decision.

He has put his glasses back on and appears slightly red in the face as he listens.

Victoria Hall's family and friends are sitting calmly as they look at the judge.