A man and a woman have been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of the brutal murder and dismemberment of 38-year-old Sarah Mayhew in Croydon. Steve Sansom, 45, and Gemma Watts, 49, were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 30 January 2025, after pleading guilty to murder and preventing a lawful burial.
Sansom, of Burnell Road, Sutton, received a whole life sentence, while Watts, of Holmbury Grove, Croydon, was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison. Both were also given concurrent sentences of five years for perverting the course of justice.
The tragic events unfolded in early 2024, when Sarah Mayhew, a young woman from Croydon, was murdered by Sansom and Watts, who had sadistic intentions. Detective Chief Inspector Martin Thorpe, who led the investigation, revealed the complexity of the case, which involved hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, forensic examinations, and witness accounts. Evidence gathered from their phones also showed chilling messages between the defendants, including one where Watts said, “only if it’s a deal she ain’t leaving in one piece,” to which Sansom responded, “okay.
Sarah was last seen entering Sansom’s house on CCTV on 8 March 2024, and it is believed that she was murdered that day. Over the following days, the perpetrators dismembered Sarah’s body and disposed of her remains across various locations, including Rowdown Fields and the River Wandle. The discovery of Sarah’s remains, which had been dismembered and discarded in public places, shocked the local community.
Detective Chief Inspector Thorpe expressed his condolences to Sarah’s family, highlighting the bravery and strength they showed throughout the investigation. He also praised the dedication of the officers involved in the case, who worked tirelessly to gather the evidence needed to bring Sansom and Watts to justice.
The case has left Sarah’s family devastated, but the conviction ensures that those responsible for her tragic death will spend the rest of their lives behind bars. The investigation continues to serve as a reminder of the brutal nature of organised and sadistic violence, and the tireless work of law enforcement to bring such offenders to justice.
