Man denies Ipswich prostitute murders

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) A forklift truck driver accused of murdering five women in eastern England last December denied all charges against him when he appeared in court today.

Steve Wright was arrested after one of Britain's biggest manhunts. Five prostitutes were murdered in the space of 11 days.

The naked bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found dumped at rural locations around the town of Ipswich.

Detectives launched their murder investigation on December. 2 when 25-year-old Adams' body was found in a stream. The body of 19-year-old Nicol -- last seen on Oct. 30 and the first to be reported missing -- was discovered in the same stream on December. 8.

The other three bodies were found over the next four days amid a media frenzy.

The frequency of the murders was said by the local police chief to be unrivalled in British criminal history.

Wright was appearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

REUTERS KD PM1930