Justice for Sarah Crump after thirty years

Sarah Crump. Picture: Met Police

May 24, 2023

A serial killer has been convicted of the murder of a woman in Southall thirty years ago despite previously having been acquitted of the crime.

66-year-old David Smith, who worked as a lorry driver, had faced a charge of murdering 33-year-old medical secretary Sarah Crump in 1993 but was found not guilty after his defence counsel accused the police of incompetence and suppressing evidence. Sarah’s mother predicted after the verdict that Smith would kill again.

He went on to murder 21-year-old Amanda Walker in 1999 and was found guilty of that crime since which time he has been in prison.

Sarah, who had previously worked as a psychiatric nurse, was working living alone in a flat in Lady Margaret Road, Southall at the time of her murder in August 1991. To supplement her income, she occasionally worked as an escort using the name Angie and it is believed this is how she came into contact with Smith who was an obsessive user of escorts.

6ft 3” Smith, who was known as the Honey Monster at work because of his size, had a history of sexual violence towards women including a conviction of raping a young mother who was unknown to him in 1976 and the false imprisonment of a woman in 1987. Just ten days prior to Sarah’s murder he had been arrested and charged with the attempted rape at knifepoint of an escort at a hotel in Ashford but was subsequently acquitted.

He also developed obsessions with women he came into contact with, including one who required various hospital procedures which left distinctive scarring on her body. The injuries inflicted on Sarah prior to her death bore distinct similarities to these surgical scars. Smith met this woman between late 1989 and 1990, a few months prior to Sarah’s murder in August 1991, and had a brief sexual relationship with her before she broke off contact with him due to his behaviour. He confided to another escort he used in 1990 that he was in love in with this woman.

Smith’s use of escorts predominantly involved him inviting them to his home in Hampton where he lived with his parents. The day before he met Sarah, Smith had made three unsuccessful attempts to book escorts.

The first booking on 28 August 1991was meant to be at Smith’s house but he cancelled and he later arranged to meet at Sarah’s flat checking first that they would be alone. He told her he needed this assurance because he had previously been attacked by an escort’s boyfriend.

He booked through the Elite Escort Agency using the name Duncan and using his work phone in Heathrow to place the booking. Shortly before midnight, Smith arrived at Sarah’s flat but left a short time later to withdraw cash from an ATM in Southall. He returned and, as was standard practice for escort work, Sarah phoned the agency to confirm he had arrived and paid. She was also required to make a call to the agency after a client had left which she did so but the person she spoke to, who knew her well, noticed that she was short and abrupt. Police believe that Smith had remained at her flat and she was trying to alert the agency to get help.

She failed to turn up for work at the chiropody department at Wimbledon Hospital next morning and concerns were raised for her welfare. On 1 September, police officers broke into her flat and found her mutilated naked body. She had suffered multiple injuries and there was evidence in the flat that the murderer had tried to wash blood off themselves.

Phone records kept by the agency allowed the police to identify ‘Duncan’ as David Smith. During subsequent interviews with the police, he constantly changed his story initially claiming he had never been to Southall or met Sarah and then admitting he had but had left her safe and well after his appointment.

The police were unable to gather sufficient evidence to convince a jury of his guilt, but he was jailed in 1999 for the murder of Amanda Walker. While awaiting trial he told another prisoner that he had committed a similar offence several years previously detailing his victim’s injuries which were strikingly similar to those inflicted on Amanda.

At the time there was no risk to him making the confession as double jeopardy rules had meant that someone could not be retried for a crime they had already been cleared of in court. However, changes to the law in 2003 meant that it was possible that Smith could be put on trial again for Sarah’s murder.

Met detectives from the Specialist Casework Team - the dedicated unit for cold case homicide investigations – took another look at the murder. New evidence was collated alongside existing material and presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with the request that an application be made to the Court of Appeal to overturn Smith’s acquittal. In 2021 this was granted by the DPP and the following year the Court of Appeal heard the case and ordered Smith’s re-trial at the Inner London Crown Court which concluded with a guilty verdict on Wednesday 24 May.

Detective Superintendent Rebecca Reeves said, “David Smith has finally been held to account for this horrific attack he committed over 30 years ago – a crime he thought he had got away with.

“After so many years, it is hugely satisfying that Smith has been brought to justice for Sarah’s murder. My thoughts today are with Sarah’s family and also with the family of Amanda Walker, the young woman who Smith murdered in terrible circumstances in 1999, six years after he was acquitted by a court for murdering Sarah. Both Sarah and Amanda’s families have shown incredible strength, dignity and courage. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for them to have to hear again the details of Smith’s offending against their loved ones.

“It was changes in the law that made it possible in this re-trial to present evidence about the strikingly similar nature of the circumstances and injuries suffered by Sarah and Amanda. This, along with comments made by Smith while awaiting trial for Amanda’s murder, and the evidence bravely provided by other women he had assaulted, left the jury in no doubt that he had attacked and killed Sarah.

“The investigation team also carried out a careful forensic review which identified that a number of fingerprints in Sarah’s flat had been left by the previous owner and did not relate to the murder.

“Smith is one of the most dangerous repeat offenders against women and girls I have ever encountered and this conviction means he faces many more years in prison.”

Sarah’s family said, “At long last justice for our lovely Sarah. If only our Mum & Dad were here with us today to share this momentous occasion.

“After the disheartening acquittal at the Old Bailey in 1993, our Mum said that Smith would kill again. Eight years later, he was found guilty of an even more savage murder and mutilation of a young woman and mother, which he later admitted.

“Thirty years may have passed but we still miss Sarah - she was a shining light in a murky world who wished for the best but found the worst in humanity.

“We would like to thank the tenacity, dedication and teamwork of the Metropolitan Police Service; this is not ‘just a job’ for them and we are so grateful. The same can be said for the legal team, with determination and professionalism shown to ensure the correct verdict was met. Plus, all the witnesses who came forward at great personal sacrifice.”

Detective Superintendent Reeves concluded, “It is over 30 years since Sarah was brutally attacked and murdered in her own home. I hope Smith’s conviction demonstrates our determination to pursue those who commit violent crimes, no matter the length of time that has passed.”

David Smith will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, 26 May.