A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl from Trimley St Mary more than 20 years ago.

Victoria Hall, aged 17, was last seen alive in the early hours of Sunday, September 19, 1999, in High Road, Trimley.

Victoria left home the previous evening to go for a night out with a friend at the Bandbox nightclub in Bent Hill, Felixstowe, where they remained until about 1am.

Vicky-Hall-Murder--Timeline-of-Events

They then went to get some food at the Bodrum Grill, in Undercliff Road West, before beginning the walk back to Trimley St Mary.

East Anglian Daily Times: A still image from CCTV footage of Vicky Hall and Gemma Algar on the night Vicky disappeared Picture: COURTESY OF SUFFOLK CONSTABULARYA still image from CCTV footage of Vicky Hall and Gemma Algar on the night Vicky disappeared Picture: COURTESY OF SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY

They parted at about 2.20am, near the junction of High Road and Faulkeners Way. Victoria was just yards away from her home.

When Victoria’s parents woke up that morning and discovered that she had not returned home, the police were called and a missing person inquiry commenced.

Five days later, on Friday, September 24, Victoria’s naked body was found in a ditch beside a field by a dog walker in Creeting Lane, Creeting St Peter, approximately 25 miles away from where she was last seen.

East Anglian Daily Times: The scene in Creeting St Peter where Vicky Hall's body was discovered Picture: RICHARD SNASDELLThe scene in Creeting St Peter where Vicky Hall's body was discovered Picture: RICHARD SNASDELL

In September 2019, Suffolk police revealed that the case — known as Operation Avon — was now a live inquiry again and being fully reinvestigated by a new team of detectives, after fresh information had been received that was not previously known.

East Anglian Daily Times: A press conference with Gemma Algar at police headquarters in September, 1999 Picture: ARCHANTA press conference with Gemma Algar at police headquarters in September, 1999 Picture: ARCHANT

As a result of the work that has been ongoing for the past two years, officers have arrested a man on suspicion of murder this morning, Wednesday July 28.

East Anglian Daily Times: A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Victoria Hall in 1999A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Victoria Hall in 1999 (Image: Courtesy of Victoria Hall's Family/Suffolk Constabulary)

He has been taken into police custody, where he currently remains for questioning.

Police said the individual was not someone who has previously been arrested as part of the inquiry.

The case was reopened back in 2019 after new information about the murder came to light when at least two witnesses came forward to give evidence, which the police deemed significant enough to reopen a live murder enquiry.

East Anglian Daily Times: Vicky's parents Graham and Lorinda Hall with DCI Caroline Millar in September PICTURE: RACHEL EDGEVicky's parents Graham and Lorinda Hall with DCI Caroline Millar in September PICTURE: RACHEL EDGE (Image: RACHEL EDGE)

Detectives continue to ask for anyone with information about Victoria’s death to contact the major investigation team and quote Operation Avon.

You can contact the team via the Major Incident Public Reporting Portal online or by calling the incident room on either 08000920410 or 02071580124.

Timeline of events:

  • September 18, 1999: Night out - On September 18, 1999, 17-year-old Vicky Hall had a night out in Felixstowe with friend Gemma Algar. The pair went to the Bandbox nightclub in the Suffolk seaside town.
  • September 19, 1999, 1am: Leaving the club - The two friends left the nightclub around 1am in the morning and started their walk home, buying some chips on the way back.
  • September 19, 1999, 2am: Separated - The pair separated around 2.20am at the junction of Faulkeners Way and Trimley High Road - a few hundred yards from Vicky’s home in Faulkeners Way, Trimley St Mary. Vicky never made it home. Residents reported hearing screams and a car with a noisy exhaust drive off at speed around this time.
  • September 19, 1999, 8.20am: Reported missing - Vicky's parents Graham and Lorinda report her missing on Sunday morning, September 19 at 8.20am when they realise she hasn't returned home.
  • September 19, 1999: Police investigation - A police investigation is launched and is quickly elevated from a missing person inquiry to a murder inquiry.
  • September 24, 1999: Body is found - Five days after Vicky was last seen, a dog walker in Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket, saw what he initially thought was a dummy in a ditch and reported it to the police. Officers discovered this to be the naked body of Vicky Hall.
  • September 30, 1999: Post-Mortem - Post-mortem results fail to establish how the 17-year-old died, only showing that she suffered “some degree of asphyxiation”.
  • May 11, 2000: Arrest - Police arrest businessman Adrian Bradshaw, of Trimley St Mary, on suspicion of murder. His car is taken away for forensic examination. He is later released.
  • December 18, 2000: Arrested again - 440 days since the start of the investigation Mr Bradshaw is arrested for second time on suspicion of murder.
  • November 19, 2001, Acquitted - After ten months in custody and a two-week trial at Norwich Crown Court, Mr Bradshaw is found not guilty and walks free.
  • August 4, 2004: Memorial hall opens - Then Ipswich Town boss Joe Royle opens the £260,000 Victoria Hall Pavilion after a fundraising drive in the community, which was spearheaded by the Ipswich Star.
  • July 28, 2021: Arrest - Police arrest a man on suspicion of murdering Victoria Hall over 20 years since her death.