Steven Beards

Steven Beards, 34, from Bloxwich in Walsall, has been convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Whiting, a 20-year-old student with learning difficulties. The incident occurred on 16 August 2015, when Miss Whiting, who had become friends with Beards' wife Julie through a local adult community centre, stayed overnight at the couple's home. According to court proceedings at Leicester Crown Court, Miss Whiting's food was laced with the sedating hypnotic drug Zopiclone, after which she was raped by Steven Beards. A post-mortem examination revealed that she died from a fractured skull sustained after being struck on the head at least three times.

Her body was discovered the following day, wrapped in a shower curtain and hidden under a bed in the Beards' home, after police were alerted to her disappearance. Steven Beards initially denied the charges, claiming he had no knowledge of how his sperm was found on the victim and fabricating a story about keeping a sperm sample in the bathroom for donation purposes. The judge described him as 'a sexually motivated violent killer' during sentencing on 24 May 2016, where he received a life imprisonment term with a minimum of 33 years.

Detective Superintendent Mark Payne of West Midlands Police stated: 'Susan Whiting was a vulnerable young woman who lost her life at the hands of this pair, who betrayed her trust. The two have never given a reason why Susan was killed, but we believe the attack was pre-planned and sexually motivated.' The case highlighted the betrayal of trust, as Miss Whiting had stayed with the Beards on previous occasions, and her family had believed them to be friends. Susan's mother, Maureen Whiting, paid tribute: 'She was just 20 years old, an easy-going, loving young lady, enjoying her life. I know she was loved and will be missed by so many people.'