Rowdown Fields Croydon murder: Tributes paid to Sarah Mayhew

The remains of Sarah Mayhew were discovered in Rowdown Fields, New Addington at around 9am on April 2.

Police were called to the scene after a dog walker saw his animal uncover a human bone. 

Tributes paid to Sarah Mayhew (Image: PA Media)

Arms, legs and a head were then found nearby and identified as belonging to Ms Mayhew by her DNA. 

Police are continuing to search for the victim’s torso, the Old Bailey heard. 

Gemma Watts, 48, and Steven Sansom, 44, were arrested on April 6 and subsequently charged with her murder and preventing her lawful and decent burial. 

Tributes paid to Sarah Mayhew (Image: PA Media)

It is alleged that the couple killed Ms Mayhew at a residential property before her body was dismembered with power tools. 

The cause of the victim’s death remains unascertained. 

Tributes have since been paid to Sarah with flowers and handwritten notes left at the scene of the incident.

Tributes paid to Sarah Mayhew (Image: PA Media)

One of the notes read: “Rest in peace Sarah.

“Condolences to family and friends at this tragic time.

“The world is too cruel.”

Police cordon where remains of Sarah Mayhew were found (Image: PA Media)

An examination of Sarah’s body found two small vertebrae were broken in her voicebox, bruising to the skull and her head had been shaved. 

Ms Mayhew was last seen in Sutton on the evening of March 8. 

On April 11, Sansom and Watts appeared separately at the Old Bailey before Judge Philip Katz KC. 

Police cordon where remains of Sarah Mayhew were found (Image: PA Media)

Watts, of Featherbed Lane in New Addington, appeared first by video link from Bronzefield prison followed later by Sansom from Belmarsh jail. 

Watts appeared to have a dark bruise around her eye and both defendants spoke only to confirm their identities. 

The court heard that both she and Sansom are alleged to have killed Ms Mayhew at the residential property on the night of March 8 before disposing of her body. 

Police cordon where remains of Sarah Mayhew were found (Image: PA Media)

Prosecutor Tom Little KC: “This is quite a significant ongoing investigation in relation to the whereabouts of the entirety of the deceased’s body. 

“The deceased’s body was certainly cut up in parts with used of power tools.” 

Judge Katz set a plea hearing for June 27 and a provisional four-week trial from February 17 next year. 

The Old Bailey judge remanded the defendants into custody. 

Sansom, of Burnell Road, Sutton, also faces three separate charges of making indecent images of a child.