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THIS is the chilling moment a "sado-masochistic" couple drag a mum's severed remains in a suitcase after murdering her to satisfy her bloodlust.

Steve Sansom, 45, and his girlfriend Gemma Watts, 49, slaughtered Sarah Mayhew after exchanging "depraved" texts about cannibalism.

Surveillance image of two suspects.
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Steve Sansom and Gemma Watts were captured wheeling Sarah Mayhew's body in a suitcase
Photo of Sarah Mayhew.
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The mum-of-two was brutally murdered then dismemberedCredit: Central News
Mugshot of Gemma Watts, showing a bandage on her forehead and a bruise under her eye.
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Gemma Watts was yesterday jailed for lifeCredit: MET POLICE/UNPIXS
Mugshot of Steven Sansom.
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Sansom was handed a whole life tariffCredit: MET POLICE/UNPIXS
Illustration of text messages discussing violent acts.
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The couple had chilling text exchanges

They were then captured on CCTV in the dead of night wheeling the 38-year-old's butchered body parts through South London.

Footage also shows Sansom buying hacksaw blades, which were used to chop up Sarah's body.

Parts of Sarah's remains were discovered in Rowdown Fields, Croydon, last year.

Then her "limbless torso" was then pulled from the River Wandle by contractors carrying out cleaning work weeks later.

Sansom and Watts were yesterday jailed after pleading guilty to murder and perverting the course of justice.

Sansom was handed a rare whole life tariff - meaning he will never be released from prison.

While Watts was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years.

It is a second life sentence for Sansom, who was previously convicted and jailed for murder in 1999.

A court heard the couple's relationship was "characterised by sado-masochistic violence" that was so intense they "often referred to dying together if caught".

They would send each other "depraved" messages about their macabre desire to kill victims while "involved in sexual activity" with them.

The couple then discussed having sex while covered in their victim's blood and eating human flesh.

On September 7, 2023, Watts messaged Sansom saying: "I am writing this of my own free will.

Surveillance image of a person paying at a checkout counter.
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Sansom can be seen buying power tools
Surveillance image of a man walking in a hardware store aisle.
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The monster had already murdered Sarah at this point

"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."

Four days later, Sansom said in a voice note: "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."

They also had a "kinky" sexual relationship and shared texts about bestiality, humiliation and causing hurt.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC said: "Given what was subsequently to happen to Sarah Mayhew this murderous, sexual and sadistic discussion was manifestly not an idle fantasy."

On March 8 last year, Sarah was last seen heading to Sansom's home after meeting him on a dating site years previously.

She was tragically never seen again after Sansom and Watts slaughtered her that night.

The depraved couple then used power tools to chop up Sarah's body after Sansom purchased a 300mm hacksaw, a 300mm blade and 14-litre bucket.

After cleaning up evidence of their gruesome crime, he left a chilling voice note claiming the pair had "done the world a service".

He also posted on his Facebook, which had the username "Red Rum" - murder spelt backwards - two days later.

Illustration of Sarah Mayhew murder timeline map showing locations where her remains were found in South London.
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Sansom wrote: "Best friends are those who don't say anything when you show up at their door with a dead body.

"They just grab a shovel and follow you."

Sarah's head, arms and legs were found in the park when a dog walking in the fields returned to its owner carrying a human bone.

Then, on May 21, further body parts were discovered in Mitcham.

The court heard Sarah's head had been shaved and she had bruising on her skull.

DNA tests carried out on blood traces in a bucket, in the kitchen and the lounge floor and walls at Samson's flat showed they belonged to Sarah.

Her bloodstains were also found in the bedroom and bathroom sink.

Sansom was previously jailed for manslaughter after he stabbed popular cab driver Terrence Boyle, 59, in the throat and back before escaping with just £25 on Christmas Eve 1998.

He was released from jail in December 2019 after his case was considered by the Parole Board.

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The double killer was under probation supervision at the time of Sarah's murder.

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed a serious further offence review is under way due to Sansom's release from jail.

Photo of Sarah Mayhew.
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Sarah was last seen alive on March 8 last yearCredit: Central News
Close-up selfie of Steven Sansom, wearing a grey t-shirt.
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Sansom had been released from jail for killing a man when he murdered the mumCredit: Central News
Gemma Watts in court via videolink.
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He and Watts were in a 'sado-masochist' relationshipCredit: Central News
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