Former pub landlord Steve Wright has been found guilty of killing five women who worked as prostitutes in Ipswich, Suffolk.

The 49-year-old, of Ipswich, will be sentenced on Friday at Ipswich Crown Court for the murders of Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29.

The families of some of Wright's victims called for the return of the death penalty following his conviction.

The prosecution had argued that he "systematically selected and murdered" all five women having stalked the red-light district near his home in late 2006 when partner Pam Wright, 59, was working nights at a call centre.

Flanked by security guards in the dock of Court No 1, Wright stood emotionless as the jury of nine men and three women returned its guilty verdicts after a six-week trial.

As each one was read out, cries of "yes" were heard coming from the public gallery, where the families of three of the dead women had gathered.

Members of the families of Miss Nicol, Miss Clennell and Miss Nicholls clenched their hands together as they listened to the verdicts being read out. Miss Nicholls' mother Kim sobbed, while the sister and mother of Miss Clennell also broke down.

Sentencing is likely to take place on Friday, the judge, Mr Justice Gross said.

The naked corpses of the five women were found in remote locations around Ipswich over ten days in December 2006.

Two of the bodies were arranged with their arms outstretched in a crucifix pose. The jury was told that forensic analysis revealed Wright's DNA on three of the women and fibres linked him to all five.

Wright had admitted using prostitutes in Ipswich and having sex with four of the victims, but insisted he did not kill them.

Drug addiction is the thread that ran through the lives of the five women. Once, they were innocent children and ordinary teenagers but heroin or crack cocaine flicked the switch that changed them all.

Miss Adams' parents Brian and Gail remember a piano-playing chatterbox, the caring Brownie, the "bright and beautiful" little girl. Mr Adams said his daughter lost all sense of direction after becoming hooked. She turned to prostitution to fund her habit.

Miss Alderton changed from an "excellent student" to a drug addict following the death of her father, her mother Maire Alderton said. Her daughter dyed her reddish-brown hair peroxide blonde when she worked as a prostitute to show "she was not being a yummy mummy but being some drug-taking girl out on the streets."

Before her disappearance, Miss Alderton told police she was working the streets to pay for her son's Christmas presents.

Miss Clennell is also said to have turned to drugs after her family life became fractured. A friend said: "She started taking drugs to keep going and to block out the pain." And, according to a man she stayed with, Miss Clennell never expected to live long.

Former soldier Brian Wilmshurst said: "Paula did say she never expected to live long, not longer than 25. She was adamant about that as if it was some kind of premonition."

Miss Nicholls qualified as a beautician before becoming hooked on heroin and turning to prostitution. Her cousin Tanya Nicholls said: "She was stunningly beautiful inside and out. Almost overnight she got into heroin and it changed her. It was a bit like flicking a light switch."

Miss Nicol's father, Jim Duell, 60, said his daughter started taking cannabis and her addiction developed from there. "It's so unreal, what happened to her. I still can't get my head round it. It's just a horror story, quite honestly."

Her family issued a statement following the guilty verdicts, which said: "We would like to say that justice has been done. But we are afraid that whilst five young lives have been cruelly ended, the person responsible will be kept warm, nourished and protected.

"In no way has justice been done. These crimes deserve the ultimate punishment and that can only mean one thing.

"Whereas our daughter and the other victims were given no human rights by this monster, his will be guarded by the establishment, at great cost to the taxpayers of this country and emotionally to the bereaved families.

"The public must insist that this Government must look at returning the death penalty for cases such as this. Otherwise, many more families will go through the same suffering that we have had to endure."

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