How a Couple's Shared Bloodthirsty Fantasy Led to Sarah Mayhew's Murder: The Twisted Case of Steven Sansom & Gemma Watts
This shocking true crime case of murder, dismemberment, and sadistic fantasies gripped the UK and beyond in 2024.
It also revealed a horrifying crime that led to a criminal investigation unlike any other.
Let's get into it
The Shocking Discovery
On April 2, 2024, a passerby made a disturbing discovery in Rowdown Fields, a quiet park in New Addington, South London.
The passerby, out for a routine walk, stumbled upon something that would haunt them forever: human remains scattered across the grass.
This shocking discovery later unraveled one of the most horrifying crimes in recent UK history.
The remains, which included a head and limbs, were later identified as Sarah Mayhew, a 38-year-old woman who had been reported missing weeks earlier.
Crime scene investigators from the local police department descended on the area, meticulously documenting and collecting evidence.
The remains showed signs of deliberate dismemberment, as reported by Independent News.
This finding indicated that Sarah had not only been murdered but that her killers had gone to great lengths to conceal their crime.
Sarah Mayhew was last seen alive on March 8, 2024, when she visited Steven Sansom’s flat in Sutton.
Unbeknownst to Sarah, Sansom’s partner, Gemma Watts, was also at the flat.
What happened inside those walls would later be described in court as a “bloodthirsty and wicked fantasy” carried out by the couple.
 |
| Sarah Mayhew |
What Was the Motive Behind the Murder?
The motive behind Sarah’s murder was not financial gain, revenge, or any conventional reason.
It was purely sadistic.
Sansom and Watts killed Sarah to fulfill their shared sexual and violent fantasies, which they had openly discussed and planned for months.
Steven Sansom and Gemma Watts’ relationship was far from ordinary.
Their bond was built on a mutual obsession with sado-masochistic violence and a shared appetite for inflicting pain and suffering.
Throughout their seven-month relationship, they exchanged countless messages and voice notes detailing their depraved fantasies.
These conversations often revolved around killing someone during sexual activity, using knives, and even consuming human flesh.
In one voice message sent by Sansom to Watts on September 11, 2023, he chillingly stated: “Everything looks like meat now, don’t they? A plaything, something to cut, something to bleed, they all look different now.”
Watts responded: “Wonder what they taste like, cooked flesh, maybe even rare so blood drips down our faces.”
These messages revealed a desire to kill someone for sexual gratification, to see blood, and to experience the thrill of taking a life, no matter how grotesque or violent.
Sarah Mayhew, a 38-year-old woman from New Addington, became the unfortunate victim of Sansom and Watts’ bloodthirsty desires.
Sarah had met Sansom years earlier on a dating site, and he lured her to his flat in Sutton on March 8, 2024, under false pretenses.
Unknown to Sarah, Watts was also present at the flat, and the couple had already planned her murder as part of their sadistic fantasy.
What happened inside the flat that night was nothing short of horrific, involving sexual violence, stabbing, and ultimately, Sarah’s murder, as reported by Standard News.
After murdering Sarah, Sansom and Watts took their depravity to another level.
They dismembered her body, using a hacksaw purchased specifically for this purpose.
Her remains were then scattered in various locations, including Rowdown Fields and the River Wandle, in an attempt to conceal their crime.
The act of dismemberment was not just a means of disposing of evidence—it was also a part of their sadistic ritual, a way to further dehumanize their victim and satisfy their twisted desires.
The Investigation: How Were Steven Sansom and Gemma Watts Caught?
From the moment Sarah’s remains were discovered, detectives from the local police department launched a full-scale criminal investigation to identify and apprehend her killers.
Here’s how the pieces of the puzzle came together to capture Steven Sansom and Gemma Watts.
1. Forensic Evidence: Crime scene investigators meticulously examined the areas where Sarah’s body parts were found, collecting DNA samples and other forensic evidence. This led investigators to Sansom’s flat in Sutton, where Sarah had last been seen alive on March 8, 2024.
Upon searching the flat, investigators found traces of blood in multiple rooms, including the kitchen, lounge, bedroom, and bathroom sink.
DNA tests confirmed the blood belonged to Sarah, linking her directly to the flat.
A hacksaw and a 14-litre bucket purchased by Sansom on March 10, 2024, were also discovered, further implicating the couple in the crime.
The hacksaw, in particular, was a critical piece of evidence, as it matched the tool used to dismember Sarah’s body.
2. CCTV Footage and Surveillance: CCTV footage played a crucial role in the investigation.
Cameras near Sansom’s flat and the River Wandle captured the couple’s movements in the days following Sarah’s disappearance.
One particularly damning piece of footage showed Sansom pulling a suitcase that appeared “noticeably heavier” than before.
Investigators later concluded that the suitcase contained Sarah’s torso, which was eventually discovered in the River Wandle.
The footage also showed Sansom and Watts walking near the river, where they were believed to have disposed of additional evidence.
This visual evidence, combined with the forensic findings, provided a clear timeline of their actions after the murder.
 |
| Steven Sansom & Gemma Watts were caught on camera moving around with large boxes |
3. Digital Evidence: Messages and Voice Notes: One of the most chilling aspects of the investigation was the discovery of digital evidence on Sansom and Watts’ devices.
The couple had exchanged a series of depraved messages and voice notes discussing violent and sadistic fantasies.
These messages, sent over several months, revealed their shared interest in killing and dismembering someone.
A particularly incriminating message from Watts to Sansom, dated September 7, 2023, read: “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 Sansom of my own free will.”
This message, along with others, demonstrated their premeditated intent and provided crucial evidence for the prosecution.
4. The Cleanup Attempt: Investigators noted that Sansom and Watts had made significant efforts to clean the flat and dispose of evidence.
However, their attempts were not thorough enough to evade forensic scrutiny.
Blood traces were found in hard-to-reach areas, and the purchase of cleaning supplies was documented through receipts and CCTV footage.
With this wealth of evidence, Sansom and Watts were taken into custody in early April 2024, just weeks after Sarah’s disappearance.
During interrogations, they initially tried to maintain their innocence, but the overwhelming evidence left little room for denial.
Justice for Sarah Mayhew and Legal Proceedings
On January 30, 2025, justice was served at the Old Bailey.
Steven Sansom received a whole life order, meaning he will never be released from prison.
Gemma Watts was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years.
The defense attorney for both defendants argued for leniency, but the judge, Mrs. Justice Cutts, was unequivocal in her ruling.
She stated: “Her fear and suffering must have been acute as she realized why she was there and what was happening. She was an innocent woman lured to that flat to die in order for you could both act out your bloodthirsty and wicked fantasy.”
Sarah’s family expressed their grief in victim impact statements.
Her mother, Angela, remembered her as a “beautiful, pretty girl,” while her father, David, thanked the defendants for pleading guilty, sparing the family the ordeal of a trial.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
Comments
Post a Comment