Serial killer Steve Wright pleads guilty to SIXTH murder after death of 17-year-old more than 25 years ago

But he dramatically changed his plea today and finally admitted to the teen's kidnap “by force or fraud” and murder on September 19, 1999.

He also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, then aged 22, in Felixstowe the day before.

It is the first time Wright has admitted any killings, despite pleas from his family to come clean.

Wright, who has been nicknamed the "Suffolk Strangler", appeared in the dock of the Old Bailey today in a navy and grey jumper, and spoke only to confirm his name and enter pleas.

Mr Justice Bennathan said he would sentence the defendant on Friday to give Ms Hall’s family the chance to attend and submit victim impact statements.

Prosecutor Jocelynn Ledward KC confirmed Ms Hall’s friend, Gemma Algar, and Ms Doherty would also submit statements.

Samantha Woolley, a specialist prosecutor who led the Crown Prosecution Service case against Wright, said: “Justice has finally been achieved for Victoria Hall after 26 years.

“The meticulous work we have carried out with Suffolk Police, supporting their restarted investigation over the past six years and working hard to build this case to court, has resulted in Wright admitting his guilt.

“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.

“Our thoughts remain with Victoria’s family, and all those who loved and cherished her at this incredibly difficult time. We also hold in mind Emily Doherty and her family, and anyone else affected by this tragic case.”

Former merchant seaman Wright, who is being held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, is already serving a whole life prison sentence for the murders of five women seven years after Ms Hall was killed.

Ms Hall, from Trimley St Mary in Suffolk, had left her home on the evening of September 18, 1999, for a night-out with her friend Ms Algar at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe.

Five days later her body was found in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, around 25 miles from where she was last seen.

The sixth-former had been hoping to study sociology at university in Roehampton, Surrey, before she was killed.

A year after her murder, her parents Graham and Lorinda Hall had appealed for help to bring her murderer to justice.

Mr Hall said at the time he remained optimistic, saying: “Whoever did this must be under as much pressure as we are. They have got it on their conscience all of the time.”

Mrs Hall died last December, before her daughter’s killer could be brought to justice.

In 2006, locals in Ipswich suffered six weeks of terror while detectives hunted for the serial killer in their midst.

On October 30 that year, Tania Nicol, 19, vanished from Ipswich’s red light area, followed by Gemma Adams, 25, around two weeks later, triggering a major inquiry.

Miss Adams’s body was found in a stream at Hintlesham on December 2, followed by the discovery of Miss Nicol’s remains in a pond at Copdock on December 8.

Two days later, the body of Anneli Alderton, 24, was found in woods at Nacton and sex workers in the town were urged to stay off the streets.

On December 12, the bodies of Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, were found near woods at Levington.

Two of the women, who were all sex workers in Ipswich’s red light area, were laid out in a crucifix shape.

Wright was arrested at his Ipswich home a week later.

Pathology evidence suggested all the women had been choked or strangled.

During a trial at Ipswich Crown Court in 2008, prosecutors said Wright “systematically selected and murdered” the women after stalking streets around his home.

Wright was seen cruising the red light district around the time each of the women vanished.

DNA and fibres linked to his clothes, house and car were found on the women.