A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering five young women working as prostitutes whose naked bodies have been found within ten miles of Ipswich, Suffolk, over the last three weeks.

Sources close to the investigation have named the man as Tom Stephens, a supermarket worker, who was arrested at his home in Trimley, near Felixstowe at 7:20 this morning.

A former prostitute, Jacci Goldsmith, has known Mr Stephens since he began visiting prostitutes 18 months ago and said that he told her he used to be a Special Constable with Norwich police between 1991 and 1997.

Ms Goldsmith said that he came to see her on Friday night as he was so upset about the murders.

She told Times Online: "He is not dangerous or violent and used to look after the girls, driving them around to get their drugs and in return they had sex with him. I have slept in his bed a couple of times because I was on the street and he let me stay at his house but we never had sex.

"I don't think he could have done this as he has always treated the girls well. I don't think he is dangerous or violent.

"He came to my bungalow on Friday night and was just sitting talking, he was upset about what was happening so he came round to talk.

"I asked him if he used to be a Special Constable in Norwich and he said he was, he didn't mind talking about it."

Norwich police refused to comment officially on the allegation but sources confirmed that he had been a Special Constable.

EArlier Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said the suspect would be questioned this afternoon on suspicion of the murder of all five women - Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, Annette Nicholls, 29, and Tania Nicol, 19. He is being held at a Suffolk police station.

"He has been arrested on suspicion of murdering all five women," Detective Chief Superintendent Gull said, refusing to take questions."As legal proceedings are now active, Suffolk police will not be issuing any further comments or appeals at this stage."

A weekend newspaper carried an interview with Mr Stephens, in which he said he had been questioned four times by police. He admitted to knowing the women, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I'm a friend of the girls. I was closest to Tania. And Gemma as well. But I should have been there to watch over them...But I'm not worried about being charged, I am innocent."

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu