WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Steve Sansom, 45, and girlfriend Gemma Watts, 49, were caught on CCTV wheeling the body of Sarah Mayhew through south London after sending “depraved” texts
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Met Police release CCTV of Steve Samson and Gemma Watts
This is the gruesome moment a “sado-masochistic” couple drag a 38-year-old mum’s remains in a suitcase after sending sick cannibalism texts.
Steve Sansom, 45, and girlfriend Gemma Watts, 49, were caught on CCTV wheeling the body of Sarah Mayhew through the streets of south London. Parts of the mum’s body were discovered in Rowdown Fields, Croydon, on April 2 last year, by a dog walker as they were seen on shop CCTV buying hacksaw blades, which were used to chop up her body.
Sarah’s body was later pulled from the River Wandle by contractors carrying out cleaning work on May 21 after her “limbless torso” was discovered. Sansom and Watts pleaded guilty to murder and perverting the course of justice. A whole life tariff was handed down to Sansom, which means he will never be released from prison. Meanwhile, Watts was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years. Sansom was previously convicted and jailed for murder in 1999.
In court, it was heard how the couple’s relationship was “characterised by sado-masochistic violence” and they “often referred to dying together if caught”. They would send each other “depraved” messages about their desire to kill victims while “involved in sexual activity” with them.
Sick messages showed how the couple discussed having sex while covered in their victim’s blood and asked what eating human flesh would taste like. On September 7, 2023, Watts sent Sansom a text saying: “I am writing this of my own free will. Should any serious injury, or even death occur whilst I am with Steven Sansom let it be made fully understood that I enter the act of violent, dangerous sex games with Steven Samson of my own free will.”
In a voice note just days later, Sansom said: “Everything looks like meat now don’t they? A plaything, something to cut, something to bleed, they all look different now.” Watts replied: “Wonder what they taste like, cooked flesh, maybe even rare so blood drips down our faces.”
A court heard during a sentencing hearing how he and accomplice Watts attempted to hide her body. Footage was shown of them going to Rowden Fields where Ms Mayhew’s arms and legs were found by a dog walker.
The couple then headed to the River Wandle in Mitcham, where Sansom was spotted by someone who knew him from fishing and giving Sansom haircuts. Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the Old Bailey: “Sansom seemed less talkative than usual, and the conversation was rather awkward”. The man also said “it seemed strange” when Sansom asked him what he was doing, and last remembered the defendants facing a bush. Sarah’s torso was later found about a mile downstream.
They indulged in “depraved conversation about sexual activity” and the graphic messages between them soon evolved into becoming more than fantasy. The judge said that Sansom “had murder in mind” and that Watts, who was obsessed with him, took part in the murder. The judge added: “There is clear and proper inference in my view that this murder involved sexual and sadistic conduct.”
