Ripper killer David Smith convicted of murdering Sarah Crump after boasting he’d “got away with it”

Jack the Ripper-style killer David Smith, nicknamed ‘The Honey Monster’ and ‘Lurch’ due to his 6ft 4 ins size and size 14 feet, has been found guilty of a murder that he boasted he had “got away” with.

Smith walked free from the Old Bailey in the summer of 1993 after he was found not guilty of murdering Sarah Crump. But yesterday (Wednesday) at the age of 66 and under double jeopardy law he was convicted of that murder.

David Smith walks free from the Old Bailey in 1993                            Pic: Mark St.George  © GlobalNet Pictures

Part-time sex worker Sarah Crump, 33, was virtually “ripped in two” by long-distance lorry driver Smith in Southall in 1991. He was a loner obsessed with call girls and in the act of killing Ms Crump, a chiropodist’s secretary who made extra money working as an escort and who was pregnant at the time, he sliced her open down the length of her body, cut off her breasts and disembowelled her.

Smith was found guilty after a trial at Inner London Crown Court yesterday and showed no emption as the jury reached their verdict. Smith had previously been acquitted of Sarah’s murder at his first trial in 1993 and walked free.

Victim Sarah Crump                                                                       © GlobalNet Pictures

Prosecutor William Boyce, KC, informed the court “new and compelling evidence” against Smith had led him to stand trial once again.

After Smith’s 1993 acquittal, he went on to murder another woman in 1999 – 21-year-old Amanda Walker – and was subsequently found guilty of that crime later the same year.

He has remained in prison ever since.

Victim Amanda Walker                                                                    © GlobalNet Pictures

Smith’s conviction for Sarah’s murder follows a re-investigation of the case by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Casework Team, the unit dedicated to cold case homicide investigation.

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.

Mugshot of David Smith released in 1999 after his conviction for murdering Amanda Walker © GlobalNet Pictures

“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.

Smith outside the Old Bailey                                                             Pic: Mark St.George  © GlobalNet Pictures

“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.”

 Pic: Mark St.George                                                                       © GlobalNet Pictures

After the verdict, Sarah’s family said: “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.

Murder victim Sarah Crump

“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.

Sussex Gardens where Smith picked up victim Amanda Walker            Pic: Alex McDonald  © GlobalNet Pictures

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.”

Former nurse Sarah Crump lived in a flat in Lady Margaret Road, Southall, where she also did escort work and through that line of work she met Smith, using her working name “Angie.”

Sarah Crump

Smith was a consistent user of escorts and became obsessed with them. One in particular had undergone hospital procedures which left distinctive scarring on her body. The injuries inflicted on Sara bore distinct similarities to the scarring after these ops. Smith met her 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 with this woman.

Smith in 1993 after being found not guilty of murder    Pic: Mark St.George                     © GlobalNet Pictures

In 1999, while awaiting trial for the murder of Amanda Walker, Smith confided to a fellow prisoner that he had carried out a similar attack on a woman around seven years earlier and described some of the injuries inflicted on Sarah; injuries which bore stark similarities to those Amanda had suffered.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Wisley, Surrey, where Amanda Walker’s body was found six weeks after “ripper” David Smith murdered her          Pic: Alex McDonald      © GlobalNet Pictures

He boasted to the con that he had got away with it when he was acquitted at court.

Brothel/sex den at 412 Ilford High Road where “Ripper” David Smith went to entertain himself before murdering Amanda Walker                                    Pic: Alex McDonald        © GlobalNet Pictures

Smith has a long history of obsessive behaviour and sexual violence towards women. Alongside his two murder convictions, he has also been convicted of a stranger rape in 1976 and the false imprisonment of a woman in 1987.

Another view of the brothel in Ilford High Road              Pic: Alex McDonald                    © GlobalNet Pictures

Ten days prior to Sarah’s murder, Smith was also arrested and charged with the attempted rape at knifepoint of an escort at a hotel in Ashford. He was later acquitted of the attempted rape.

The semi in Markhole Close where Smith lived with his mum      Pic: Alex McDonald          © GlobalNet Pictures

The killer lived his later life before prison at a house in Markhole Close, Hampton, with his mother.

Markhole Close, Hampton, where Smith lived                  Pic: Alex McDonald                    © GlobalNet Pictures

Smith will be sentenced tomorrow (Friday).