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Suffolk defendant gives evidence Suffolk defendant gives evidence
(21 minutes later)
A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk has begun giving evidence at his trial.A man accused of murdering five women in Suffolk has begun giving evidence at his trial.
Steve Wright, 49, is expected to take three days giving his account after the defence opened its case at Ipswich Crown Court.Steve Wright, 49, is expected to take three days giving his account after the defence opened its case at Ipswich Crown Court.
The bodies of Paula Clennell, Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Annette Nicholls and Tania Nicol were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006.The bodies of Paula Clennell, Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Annette Nicholls and Tania Nicol were all found in the Ipswich area in December 2006.
Mr Wright, from Ipswich, denies killing the women who worked as prostitutes.Mr Wright, from Ipswich, denies killing the women who worked as prostitutes.
Their bodies were found at remote locations around the town over a 10-day period. Their naked bodies were found at remote locations around the town over a 10-day period.
'Unsteady on feet''Unsteady on feet'
Defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006.Defence barrister Timothy Langdale QC asked Mr Wright about when he was arrested on suspicion of the five murders on 19 December, 2006.
Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell.Jurors were previously told Mr Wright felt "unsteady on his feet" at the time of his arrest and asked if he could sit down before he fell.
Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?"Mr Langdale said: "Does that indicate you feeling as if you were about to faint?"
Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was."Mr Wright answered: "Yes, it was."
Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had.Mr Langdale asked if a similar incident had happened in the past and Mr Wright replied that it had.
He said: "When I become under stress."He said: "When I become under stress."
The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and had had problems.The five women were found dead around Ipswich in December 2006Jurors heard Mr Wright had once given evidence in court as a prosecution witness and had had problems.
"When I was in the witness box giving my evidence, I found the whole experience very stressful and frightening and I just came over all faint and I passed out," Mr Wright said."When I was in the witness box giving my evidence, I found the whole experience very stressful and frightening and I just came over all faint and I passed out," Mr Wright said.
Mr Langdale told the court that jurors would hear details of Wright's background and how he came to be in Ipswich.Mr Langdale told the court that jurors would hear details of Wright's background and how he came to be in Ipswich.
Mr Wright said he was born in Norfolk and after his parents divorced he was brought up by a mixture of his father, mother and grandparents.Mr Wright said he was born in Norfolk and after his parents divorced he was brought up by a mixture of his father, mother and grandparents.
Due to his father's work abroad, as an RAF policeman, he had been educated in Malta and Singapore as well as England.Due to his father's work abroad, as an RAF policeman, he had been educated in Malta and Singapore as well as England.
'Made bankrupt'
Mr Wright said he left school at 16 with no qualifications and began working in a hotel in Suffolk and then joined the Merchant Navy when he was 17.Mr Wright said he left school at 16 with no qualifications and began working in a hotel in Suffolk and then joined the Merchant Navy when he was 17.
Various jobs in the leisure industry followed before he met his first wife, whom he was with for seven or eight years.Various jobs in the leisure industry followed before he met his first wife, whom he was with for seven or eight years.
At that time he worked on the QE2 first as a steward, then in the restaurant.At that time he worked on the QE2 first as a steward, then in the restaurant.
Mr Wright returned to the UK were he worked in various pubs before he got into financial difficulties.
"I just got myself into so much debt... I was gambling on horses," he told jurors.
Around this time, he went to Thailand for about 10 weeks and came back in further financial trouble and returned to bar work.
Mr Wright said: "Because of the jobs I had, I wasn't paid very much. My father suggested I made myself bankrupt to get rid of the debts that way.
"When I made myself bankrupt, that took most of the pressure off me really."
Agency work followed, and Mr Wright, who had been based in Levington near Ipswich, moved to Nacton shortly after.
The trial continues.The trial continues.