Skip to content

Man admits murdering and dismembering Sarah Mayhew

News imageMetropolitan Police Sarah Mayhew, murder victim. Blurred image of a blonde woman with her head tilted to the rightMetropolitan Police
Sarah Mayhew disappeared in March and her remains were first found a month later

A 45-year-old man has admitted murdering a woman whose body parts were found in various locations in south-west London.

Sarah Mayhew, 38, was last seen in Sutton on the evening of 8 March.

Some of her remains were found in a Croydon park on 2 April and more were discovered in the River Wandle, in Mitcham, in May.

Steven Sansom also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by dismembering her body, disposing of it in various locations, and then cleaning up the crime scene.

News imageSelfie taken by Steven Sansom. He is looking up and into the camera in a small room
It can now be reported that Steven Sansom murdered a taxi driver when he was 19

Sansom, who appeared by video-link from Belmarsh prison, will be sentenced at a later date.

A co-defendant, 49-year-old Gemma Watts, faces the same charges and was not asked to enter pleas. Her next hearing was scheduled for 15 November.

Sansom was previously convicted in 1999 for the murder of a cab driver, the Old Bailey heard.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. The prosecution said those charges would be left on file.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk