THE man accused of murdering five Suffolk women has pleaded his innocence from behind prison bars, saying he is “not capable of those crimes.”Awaiting trial in south-east London's Belmarsh prison, 48-year-old Steve Wright spoke out for the first time since his arrest.

By John Howard

THE man accused of murdering five Suffolk women has pleaded his innocence from behind prison bars, saying he is “not capable of those crimes.”

Awaiting trial in south-east London's Belmarsh prison, 48-year-old Steve Wright spoke out for the first time since his arrest.

In a letter to girlfriend Pam Goodman, reported in a national newspaper yesterday, Mr Wright begged her to believe that he is not capable of the crimes.

And he told how he is on a round the clock watch from prison guards.

Mr Wright, from London Road in Ipswich, told his partner of eight years: “Please believe me when I say I'm not capable of those crimes. I keep hoping I am going to wake up and realise it is only a bad dream.

“I know this is a frightening place but I am coping well at the moment as long as I know that you are all right. I don't want you to worry about me. I am stronger in mind and body than I make out.”

Mr Wright also begged his 61-year-old partner not to take any notice of what people are saying about him.

He said: “I just want you to remember that I love you very much and I always have. I just wish I had shown you more, you are my whole life.

“I know this must be tough on you because you are out there taking all the flak. Weather bad comments from people who do not know us.

“I know that you will have the support of your friends and you will be OK. Try not to worry about me too much, but I know that you will. Thinking about you is keeping me strong.

“I'm on constant watch here which means I have a prison officer outside my cell 24 hours a day. I suppose it's to make sure I don't do anything stupid, but you make me strong, honey.

“The thought of you pulling for me gives me a tremendous boost.”

In his three page letter, littered with spelling mistakes, Wright asked his girlfriend if she got her Christmas present, not knowing that officers seized everything in their Ipswich house.

And he said he has been keeping up with television soap operas, watching them through his prison bars.

Wright said: “I have a television outside my cell which I watch through the bars so you know I'm keeping up with all the soaps. Mind you, EastEnders is a bit boring lately.

“I even watched The Railway Children, believe it or not. You know me, if the telly is on, I have got to watch it.”

Wright also asks his partner to bring him some boxer shorts, jogging bottoms, socks and trainers when she comes to see him.

The bodies of the women - Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29 - were discovered in villages outside Ipswich last month.

Last week Wright, who is accused of murdering all five women, appeared before a judge at Ipswich Crown Court and was remanded in custody until May 1.