Jamie Stevens: Man lived with the dead body of his ex-partner for more than two years in Torquay
A man who lived with the dead body of his former partner for more than two years has been jailed for preventing the lawful burial of her body.
Jamie Stevens, 51, covered the body of Anouska Sites with a blanket at his home, after she died there.
Stevens previously appeared in court in July where he pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of a dead body and committing a series of actions with intent to pervert the course of justice. He was remanded in custody and appeared again on Monday when he was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Anouska, who would now be 36, was reported missing to police on April 10, 2025 and officers carried out initial enquiries which confirmed the last known sighting of her was on 21 May 21, 2022.
The investigation led officers to speak to Jamie Stevens, her former partner, and he confirmed that he had not seen Anouska since February or March 2022 – signing a witness statement to this effect.
Enquiries progressed with officers visiting a flat which the last known address of both Stevens and Anouska, but there was no reply on a number of occasions. Officers spoke to Stevens again, and he told them he had recently moved out of the property.
Detectives got into the flat on May 27 this year, and carried out a search and located the body of a woman, which has since been confirmed to be Anouska Sites.
Stevens was arrested following the discovery and in interview he told officers that around January 2023, Anouska went to stay with him for the night in the Upton Road flat. He went out the following day and when he returned, he found her dead. He covered her body with a blanket and left her in place.
Police say that Stevens told officers that he knew what he should have done and that looking back, he doesn’t know why he didn’t call emergency services. He admitted that he knew the explanation didn’t ‘sound right’.
He also admitted he had made a false statement to police regarding when they had last had contact.
The flat was in Upton Road, Torquay, Devon. At Exeter Crown Court Stevens, now of Reddenhill Road, was sentenced for:
- Preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body between 21 May 2022 and 28 May 2025 – 14 months jail.
- Committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of justice between 10 April 2025 and 28 May 2025 – eight months jail, concurrent.
Police say Anouska’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be submitted to the coroner in due course.
Senior investigating officer, Det Insp Jeanne Hellyer said: “I welcome the sentence handed down by the court in what is a very sad and tragic case. Anouska was denied the dignity and right of a lawful burial on her death by Stevens. My thoughts remain with Anouska’s family and friends, who can now lay her to rest.”