A 40-year-old man, has appeared at Bradford Crown Court today charged with the murders of three Bradford Prostitutes.

The mature student who lives on Thornton Road has been named as Stephen Griffiths and has been remanded in custody to appear again, via video link, at Bradford Crown Court on the 7th June. Earlier Griffiths had appeared before the city's Magistrates and to gasps in the courtroom had identified himself as the "Crossbow Cannibal", this afternoon he answered only "Yes I am" when asked if he was Stephen Shaun Griffiths.

Believed to be studying a PHD in Criminology, he is charged with killing Suzanne Blamires who was last seen on Friday, Shelley Armitage, who’s been missing for a month and Susan Rushworth who police have been searching for since June, last year.

Police stepped up their search for clues after body parts belonging to a woman were recovered from the river Aire in Shipley on Tuesday afternoon. The body has been officially identified as that of Suzanne Blamires.

Police continued to search the flats in Thornton Road on Thursday and have sealed off an area around the complex.

At a press conference Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar described the investigation as a "thorough and painstaking inquiry into three missing people who are sex workers, with all the necessary resources and expertise devoted to it".

Peter Mann, Head of CPS West Yorkshire’s Complex Casework Unit said:

“Following the arrest earlier this week of Stephen Griffiths, the Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with West Yorkshire Police. I have carefully considered all of the evidence provided to me arising from their investigation into the murders of Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth. I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge Stephen Griffiths with their murders, and that it is in the public interest to do so.

“The events of the last few days have understandably been very upsetting for the families and friends of Suzanne, Shelley, and Susan as well as for the wider public in Bradford.  

“Their families have been informed of my decision by the police and I hope soon to be able to meet them and explain the trial process to them and answer any questions they may have.