A convicted murderer has been handed a life sentence along with his accomplice for the brutal murder and dismemberment of Sarah Mayhew
Steve Sansom, 45, who was released on licence at the time of the killing, alongside 49-year old Gemma Watts, pleaded guilty to murdering Mayhew between March 7 and April 3.
They also admitted to perverting the course of justice by cutting up Ms Mayhew’s body, scattering her remains across “various locations” and cleaning up after themselves. Known to use the alias ‘Red Rum’ on Facebook, Sansom had forebodingly posted a month before the discovery of the mother-of-two: “Best friends are those who don’t say anything when you show up at their door with a dead body. They just grab a shovel and follow you.”
In a poignant statement during sentencing, Mrs Justice Cutts remarked on the tragedy of Mayhew’s life, saying, “Sarah Mayhew had a difficult life. But her greatest misfortune was to know the two of you.”
She decreed that Sansom will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of release, while Watts is set to serve a minimum of 29 years and 90 days.
The accused were familiar with Ms Mayhew, who resided in New Addington on the fringes of Croydon. Watts, from Featherbed Lane in New Addington, admitted to murder and perverting the course of justice but refuted three counts of creating indecent images of a child, which will remain on file at the court, reports the Mirror.
During an earlier session for Watts, prosecutor Tom Little KC outlined: “The prosecution case here is that on the night of March 8 the victim was murdered in the co-defendant’s (Sansom’s) property, with both the defendants being present, and thereafter there was both a significant clear-up operation and the disposal of the body of the deceased.”
On the morning of April 2 last year, a dog walker and their pet stumbled upon a human bone belonging to Ms Mayhew. The authorities were alerted, and subsequent DNA tests confirmed that arms, legs, and a head found in the vicinity belonged to Sarah.
Her limbless torso was later discovered by workers conducting clean-up operations in the River Wandle in Mitcham on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 21.
During today’s sentencing hearing, Mr Little KC presented CCTV footage that depicted Steven Sansom and Gemma Watts attempting to conceal a body. The video captured their journey to Rowdown Fields in New Addington, where the limbs of Sarah Mayhew were discovered.
The pair then proceeded to the River Wandle in Mitcham, where an acquaintance of Sansom, who knew him from fishing and haircuts, spotted him. Mr Little informed the court that Sansom appeared less conversational than usual, leading to an awkward exchange.
The man found it peculiar when Sansom questioned his activities and last recalled seeing the defendants near a bush. The judge addressed Sansom, stating: “It’s clear Sarah was murdered in that flat that night. Precisely what happened cannot be known… but [the messaging] leaves me in no doubt you lured Sarah to that flat for violent and depraved activity. Her fear and suffering must have been acute.”
Turning to Watt, she added: “She was an innocent woman lured to that flat to die in order for you to act out your bloodthirsty and wicked fantasies.”
Sansom, who is now facing his second life sentence, was first imprisoned in May 1999 after he confessed to the murder and robbery of a minicab driver on Christmas Eve of the previous year. Sansom had hailed a cab from East Croydon to take him home when he attacked 59 year old Terence Boyle, a married father-of-two.
After assaulting Boyle and stealing £25 to purchase gifts, Boyle managed to crawl from his cab. Sansom, who was 20 at the time, later laughed about the incident and remarked to a friend, “His kids are going to have to see him in hospital over Christmas.”
Released on licence in 2019 following a Parole Board review, Sansom was under probation supervision when he committed a second murder.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that a serious further offence review is underway. Additionally, Sansom will serve a concurrent five-year sentence for perverting the course of justice.
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