Victim 'could have been in car'

And the jury at the trial of former merchant seaman Steve Wright was told 19-year-old Tania Nicol vanished a month after Wright started living at a flat in a red light area.

Giving evidence, Wright said CCTV footage showing a woman approaching a dark car in the red light district late on October 30 was "quite possibly" Miss Nicol approaching his Ford Mondeo.

The panel has heard the naked bodies of the five women were found within ten weeks of Wright moving to his new home in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Wright had never "used the services" of street prostitutes before moving to the flat near Ipswich Town's Portman Road soccer ground.

Wright, 49, a fork-lift truck driver, denies murdering Miss Nicol, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29.

He told jurors how he and his partner Pam Wright set up home at 79 London Road on October 1 2006. Wright said he noticed prostitutes on streets near the flat two weeks later. Three days after that he began to pick them up and go to "secluded areas" for sex, he said.

Vice girl Tania Nicol, 19, vanished either late on October 30 or early on October 31, jurors have heard. Miss Adams vanished on November 15. Between December 2 and 12 the remains of Miss Nicol, Miss Adams, Miss Alderton, Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls were found.

He said he picked up the teenager but decided against sex because he was "put off" by her acne. Wright said Miss Nicol got out and he went home. He said he did not have "anything to do" with her disappearance.

Jurors heard that Wright's car was seen driving towards Copdock - where Miss Nicol's body was found on December 8 - two and a half hours later. Wright said he could not sleep and had been for a drive.