A man who concealed the body of his ex-girlfriend in his home for over two years has been sentenced to 14 months in prison. Jamie Stevens, 51, covered the remains of 36-year-old Anouska Sites with a blanket after she died at his flat in Torquay, Devon, in early 2022.
Exeter Crown Court heard that Stevens lied to police who were investigating her disappearance, claiming he had not seen her for months. Anouska was reported missing on April 10 this year, but the last confirmed sighting was on May 21, 2022. Officers made repeated visits to Stevens' flat but received no answer. When they forced entry on May 27, they discovered her body inside.
Stevens was arrested and admitted finding her dead after a night together in January 2023. He said he panicked and simply covered her with a blanket, leaving her there. He told officers he knew he should have called emergency services but could not explain why he did not.
Detective Inspector Jeanne Hellyer said: 'Anouska was denied the dignity and right of a lawful burial on her death by Stevens. My thoughts remain with her family and friends, who can now lay her to rest.'
Judge Anna Richardson, sentencing Stevens, described the case as 'absolutely tragic', noting that there was no reason to doubt his account of finding her dead. She added: 'It seems you completely wrongly panicked and simply covered her body. You left her there for years.'
