James Desborough, 40, was given two whole life orders on Wednesday afternoon for murdering Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, in Cornwall last year. The former builder is already serving a life sentence for murdering his cellmate Steven Kempster, 65, whom he killed while awaiting trial for these offences.
Police review other deaths at shelter
A review is being conducted into the deaths of four people who were living at a homeless shelter at the same time as serial killer James Desborough, police have said. The killer and Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman previously lived together at Sandy Lodge Hotel in Newquay, which housed homeless people and those suffering from addictions. In light of the deaths of Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman, police are reviewing the deaths of four others who lived there at the same time as Desborough.
The killer lived at Sandy Lodge Hotel between December 2024 and April 2025, during which time two men and two women died unexpectedly. Detective Superintendent Rachael Bentley, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “As a major crime investigation team, we were informed by the coroner’s officer for His Majesty’s Coroner that there were four deaths at Sandy Lodge.”
“As part of the investigation, a detective inspector – separate to the investigation but within major crime – did a review of those deaths and that included commissioning some more forensic work, some CCTV and statements. There are still some inquiries outstanding on those. They remain as unexpected deaths, but there are still some inquiries outstanding. He’s not a suspect at this time. We’re in conversation with His Majesty’s Coroner, but they were reviewed as part of the investigation.”
She added that the investigation into the four deaths at the Sandy Lodge Hotel is “ongoing”. “We don’t believe there is a link at this time,” she added. Ms Bentley said the police had attended each of the deaths at Sandy Lodge and inquiries suggested natural causes, but coronial investigations were paused when Desborough was arrested for murder.
She added: “We kept an open mind throughout the investigation that more victims could come into this investigation. At the moment, we’re not looking for any other missing people associated with James Desborough. We kept an open mind… If there is any evidence that comes to light, we will obviously do a review and investigate.”
Sentencing and details of the murders
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Saini said Desborough would never be released. “You are now aged 40. I cannot, of course, resentence you for the murder of Mr Kempster, but given you are already subject to a life sentence with a minimum term as I have specified, my concurrent sentences for the murder of Claudio and Daniel must reflect your overall criminality,” the judge said. “Having seen and heard you give evidence, and considering the circumstances in which you murdered Mr Kempster, I am sure that you are a highly dangerous individual who has no regard for the lives of people who you think are worthless. You are a person who can kill in extreme violence, with no remorse or indeed reflection on your actions.”
Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman, who both suffered from long-term addictions, had previously lived with Desborough at the homeless hostel, and the last time they were both seen alive was in his company. After their disappearances, the powerfully built Desborough, who is 5ft 10in and weighs nearly 18st, went on to spend their money on drugs and alcohol, and claimed they had both left Cornwall.
Their bodies were dismembered in an area of Sticker Woods, near St Austell, where Desborough lived in a wooden cabin. It was there that police discovered, deposited in a stream, 1,900 burned bone fragments from the body of Mr Aquilino. Parts of Mr Coleman’s body, including his torso, legs and feet, were found in a shallow grave nearby. His genitals have never been found and deliberate removal could not be excluded.
Prosecutors said Desborough was jealous of Mr Coleman because he had developed a sexual interest in his friend’s ex-wife, Hannah Creswell. Desborough told a forensic biologist who was searching the woods for Mr Coleman’s body that he “particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” in the television series Dexter.
Police found several handwritten notes inside Desborough’s cabin, including one headed: “Bug out list” and another: “Hostiles”. He had also made plans to leave the UK weeks before he was arrested. The father-of-one denied both murders and told the jury it was a “series of unfortunate circumstances” the two men died on his land within a short space of time. He accepted then spending their money on beer and drugs, but told jurors: “They were friends, I got on well with them.”
On Tuesday a jury at Winchester Crown Court found Desborough guilty of murdering Mr Aquilino and Mr Coleman following a five-week trial. Desborough, of Old Oak Woods, Lower Sticker, Cornwall, had previously pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of the two men’s bodies.
