A FORMER senior investigating officer believes Suffolk Police are faced with a unique investigation.

Detective Superintendent Jack Dees, a senior lecturer in law and policing at the University of Teesside, said: "Let's get one thing straight from the start, I don't believe there will be a serving senior investigating officer who has dealt with a case like this.

"It is highly unusual, no one will have experience of leading an investigation of this nature with five deaths happening in such a short space of time."

Mr Dees served with Northumbria and Greater Manchester police and worked on the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper hoaxer, Wearside Jack.

The former detective has led the hunt for many killers, but he has never come across any that show the same patterns as the man stalking the prostitutes in Ipswich.

He said: "Part of the problem will be the deluge of information and, with new developments happening rapidly, the officers will be inundated.

"It will be a painstakingly slow process of collating evidence from each crime scene.

"There is a feeling that the murderer is comfortable in his surroundings and has built up some kind of trust relationship with the prostitutes.

"He is obviously confident enough to dump the bodies and return to the red light district.

"To kill five girls in such a short period is almost unique, I have studied cases from across the world and I cannot find any sort of comparison."

Mr Dees added: "It is always hard in the early days of an investigation and these officers will be finding it difficult and their lives will never be the same again."