Third prostitute body found in woods

By Danielle Nuttall

ANOTHER major police investigation was launched last night after a member of the public discovered the body of a third prostitute in woods near Ipswich.

The body, understood to be that of a woman in her 20s, was found in the village of Nacton, close to Amberfield School, at 3.20pm yesterday.

But police were last night unable to say whether the discovery was linked to the murders of prostitutes Gemma Adams and Tania Nicol.

All three bodies have been found within a mile of the busy A14.

Sky News was reporting last night that the dead woman had not been reported as missing.

A Suffolk police spokesman added last night: “Police are currently conducting inquiries to identify the woman and will not be able to release any further details until formal identification has taken place.”

The spokesman said there would be a Press conference at force headquarters in Martlesham at 11am today when more information would be released.

Detectives last night sealed off the village to pedestrians and motorists and one local resident told the EADT they had been informed it could be closed for up to two days.

The police spokeswoman said: “The body of a woman has been found at Nacton this afternoon.

“Police were contacted by a member of the public at 3.20pm who reported that she had found a body just before the Amberfield turning.

“Officers are at the scene and the area is cordoned off. At this stage, as is standard procedure, the death is being treated as unexplained.” She added that to date, no other women had been reported missing in Suffolk.

All entrances to the village were closed off by police cars and blue tape last night.

A single police car and two officers stopped cars turning into the village off Old Felixstowe Road.

Shortly before 6pm, a number of police vans and cars containing officers arrived at the site and were allowed to pass through.

Residents living close to the village spoke of their concern after hearing that a body had been found.

A man, who did not want to be named, said: “I was just driving along and there was a (police) vehicle parked in the lane.

“I've been told the body is 74 yards on the left-hand side in the woods before the Amberfield turning.

“It's a bit concerning. Police reckon the village will be closed for two days.”

A woman, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: “It's pretty frightening what's happening in the town over the last few weeks. It's a lovely area. We have only lived here for two years because we lived in Ipswich until then.

“It seems there is a lot going on since we moved here. We had a car chase a few weeks ago.”

Another woman, whose children attend Amberfield School, said it was impossible to speculate what had been found until more details were revealed.

“It could be a young person or it could be an elderly person. A lot of people go walking in that area.

“A lot of people live in that area - I just hope they can get about okay.”

Amberfield is an independent day school for girls aged 3-16 and boys aged 3-7. It has about 300 pupils. The autumn term ends this Friday. It is not known whether the school will open as usual today.