Serial killer James Desborough, a fan of the TV show Dexter, has been handed a whole life order at Winchester Crown Court. The 40-year-old was convicted of three killings within a year, leading Devon and Cornwall Police to launch new enquiries into four unexplained deaths at a homeless shelter where he lived.
Whole Life Order and New Investigations
Desborough resided at Sandy Lodge Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, a facility for people experiencing homelessness or addictions. Between December 2024 and April 2025, two men and two women died unexpectedly at the shelter while Desborough lived there. Detective Superintendent Rachel Bentley of Devon and Cornwall Police said the force "don't believe there is a link at this time" but the investigation is ongoing, with "some final reviews to be done."
Details of the Murders
Desborough was convicted of killing Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, before hiding their bodies in Cornwall last year. Both victims lived with Desborough at the hostel and were last seen alive in his company. The former builder was already serving a life sentence for strangling his prison cellmate Steven Kempster at HMP Exeter while on remand. As he killed three people in separate incidents over five months, Desborough is now considered a serial killer.
Det Supt Bentley said officers attended each of the four other deaths and enquiries suggested natural causes. The deaths were passed to the coroner but investigations paused when Desborough was arrested for murder. She stated: "It was quite right that those coronial investigations paused when James Desborough was arrested for murder. That's why the major crime investigation team commenced a review and conducted some further investigation because it was right to pause."
Additional Details
Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman were found dismembered in Sticker Woods near St Austell, where Desborough lived in a wooden cabin. Officers discovered 1,900 burned bone fragments from Mr Aquilino's body at the location. Parts of Mr Coleman's body, including his torso, legs and feet, were found in a shallow grave nearby. Desborough told a forensic biologist that he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in Dexter. The father-of-one, who is 5ft10in tall and weighs almost 18st, spent his victims' money on drugs and alcohol.
