Convicted Killer Faces Life Behind Bars—Again!
A convicted murderer is set to be locked up for life a second time after admitting to the brutal slaying of 38-year-old Sarah Mayhew. Her dismembered remains were shockingly found dumped in a park in New Addington, South London, earlier this year.
The Gruesome Crime
Sarah’s body was discovered in Rowdown Fields on April 2 after police were alerted to human remains.
Steve Sansom, 45, from Sutton, and his partner Gemma Watts, 49, from New Addington, were charged with her murder. Watts admitted to murder and perverting the course of justice but denied unrelated child indecency charges, which remain on file.
Sansom previously confessed to killing Sarah, then chopping up her body and scattering parts across various locations. He also admitted cleaning the crime scene. The pair knew Sarah, who lived locally, and prosecutors believe the murder happened on March 8 at Sansom’s home. Phone records link Watts to the crime.
Double Life Sentence Coming
Judge Mark Lucraft KC confirmed both will face life sentences, with sentencing due in January 2025.
Sansom isn’t new to a life stretch. He was jailed for life in 1999 for the Christmas Eve 1998 murder and robbery of minicab driver Terence Boyle, whose throat he slit to steal £25 for Christmas presents. Although sentenced to life, Sansom was released on licence—raising serious questions about how he was monitored before striking again.
Disturbing Social Media Posts
In a chilling twist, Sansom used the social handle “Red Rum” (murder spelled backwards) and posted a dark joke on March 10: “Best friends are those who don’t say anything when you show up at their door with a dead body. They grab a shovel and follow you.”
Family in Shock, Community Outraged
Sarah Mayhew’s family attended the court hearing, visibly devastated as grim details emerged. The local community is outraged, questioning how Sansom re-offended while under probation supervision.
Detectives called the crime premeditated, with a clear effort to cover it up, triggering demands for a full review of how probation authorities monitor dangerous offenders released on licence.
Official Probe Underway
A review is underway into Sansom’s supervision by probation services. Life-sentence killers are subject to strict licence terms, including regular check-ins and behaviour rules. Authorities will investigate whether these rules were enforced properly and if stronger oversight could have averted this second horrific murder.
