Welder ‘visited intercourse employees after turning into aroused by rape and homicide of girlfriend’
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Stephen Sexton is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the rape, coercive control and the murder of his partner Joanna Derkacz, 37, at their home in Hampshire
Joanna Derkacz died from compression to the neck(Image: Family photo)
A welder visited two sex workers after allegedly raping and murdering his partner when she sought to end their relationship, a court has heard. The prosecution alleged the defendant may have been “aroused” by the killing.
Stephen Sexton is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court, facing charges of rape, coercive control and the murder of 37-year-old Joanna Derkacz at their home in Nevison Way, Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Prosecuting barrister Nicola Shannon KC has informed the court that Sexton allegedly killed Ms Derkacz because she wanted him to leave their shared home. The prosecution stated that Ms Derkacz, who died from compression to the neck, is believed to have been killed between 12.20am and 12.46am on December 28, 2023.
Stephen Sexton is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court(Image: Stephen Sexton/Facebook)
The jury was told that shortly after the alleged killing, Sexton made arrangements to visit two sex workers. Ms Shannon revealed that the first visit in Portsmouth lasted only around one minute at 1.49am, suggesting that “maybe it was unsuccessful”.
She continued that Sexton then returned home before arranging a second visit to another sex worker in Portsmouth at approximately 2.50am.
She said: “Whatever had happened between them (Ms Derkacz and Sexton) at the house, it appears that Stephen Sexton’s sexual arousal had not been fully satisfied. It may be too that the act of killing her aroused a degree of excitement in itself.”
Joanna found an Apple AirTag tracker fitted to her car(Image: Hampshire Constabulary)
The prosecutor told the court that the 39-year-old defendant had grown increasingly controlling towards his partner for more than a year prior to her death. She stated: “On one occasion, Joanna went to Kwik Fit because she was concerned that there was an Apple AirTag tracker fitted to her car and indeed there was, lodged, hidden, under one of the front wheel arches.”
Ms Shannon explained that the pair had “socialised with neighbours in what was a friendly street” and that locals described Ms Derkacz as a “petite young woman who was always well-presented”.
She revealed that Sexton had operated a welding business which had collapsed and acquaintances said that Ms Derkacz covered all the household expenses.
Ms Shannon told the court: “That apparent stability, however, we would submit, was a thin veneer on what was, in reality, a toxic and abusive relationship in which we say his behaviour was jealous, controlling and coercive.”
She alleged how Sexton grew envious of any interactions Ms Derkacz had with male friends and work colleagues and had displayed a “degree of stalking” by monitoring her emails and dispatching a “warning message” to one of her co-workers. She said Sexton would consume drugs which “led to fits of anger and threats of violence”.
The prosecutor revealed that among the final messages sent by Ms Derkacz to the defendant was: “Not only that I can’t trust u not only with women but I don’t feel save (sic) around you.”
Ms Shannon concluded: “Tragically, her concerns were, we say, well-founded – the evidence suggests that within an hour of sending that message she was dead.”
She revealed that Ms Derkacz had issued Sexton with an “ultimatum” to vacate their property by noon the next day, before blocking his phone number.
Sexton, from Totton, Southampton, denies the allegations and the trial is ongoing.
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