James Desborough, a serial killer who told police he enjoyed watching dismemberment scenes in the crime show Dexter, is among the notorious criminals jailed in the UK in July. The 40-year-old former builder was handed a whole life order after murdering two homeless men and then his cellmate.
Desborough murdered Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, at the Sandy Lodge Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, where they all lived. He dismembered, burned and hid their remains in woods. While on remand awaiting trial for those offences, he killed his cellmate Steven Kempster, 65, because Kempster snored. He was already serving a life sentence for that killing when he was sentenced for the two homeless men's murders. Desborough told a forensic biologist that he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in Dexter.
Imposing two whole life orders at Winchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Saini 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." The judge described Desborough's attempts to blame Mr Coleman for dismembering Mr Aquilino's body as "disgraceful".
Devon and Cornwall Police are now reviewing the deaths of two men and two women who died unexpectedly between December 2024 and March last year at the hotel while Desborough was there.
Fraud and dishonesty
Claire Alderton, 48, of Portsmouth, was jailed for two years at Portsmouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation. She fabricated references to gain employment as a trusts and foundations fundraiser at the charity George's Rockstars in June 2024. She later lied about submitting grant applications and, in December 2024, told her employer she had been diagnosed with cancer, stopped attending work and ceased responding to contact. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said the charity contacted a foundation that Alderton said she had secured a grant from, only to find no application had ever been made. The force contacted her referees through LinkedIn and was told the emails from them were fake. Amy O'Shaughnessy, co-founder of the charity, said: "To target charities, secure employment through deception, and fabricate a cancer diagnosis to the mother and founder of an organisation established in memory of a child who bravely fought that very disease is truly abhorrent." Pc Emma Thomas, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's Central Fraud Unit, said: "I am pleased with this result and to see Alderton put behind bars for her actions. To knowingly and purposefully target the charity sector for personal gain is an appalling crime and one for which Alderton deserved to face justice for."
Con woman Ariana Rose, 40, was jailed for five years at Southwark Crown Court for a campaign of dishonesty spanning nearly a decade. She illegally sublet properties and stole valuables while house-sitting, funding a lavish lifestyle. Judge Nicholas Rimmer ordered her to pay more than £65,000 in compensation. Rose, previously known as Sana Ali, sublet a flat in Salford Quays to three tenants using a bogus email address. She received £30,337 in apparent rental payments. She also occupied a flat in Ladbroke Grove, accruing £43,400 in rent arrears, and stole from homes in Warwickshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Suffolk. Judge Rimmer said: "Yours was a campaign of dishonest behaviour spanning nearly a decade, with offences in 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The impact of your offences was considerable and it was extensive."
Steven Long, 59, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, was jailed for eight years and four months for a Ponzi scheme that swindled £11.5 million from 115 victims, many of retirement age. The former Universal trustee and executor was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court. Co-defendant Raymond Simpson, 79, was sentenced to five and a half years in his absence after he fled to Portugal; a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Judge Gregory Perrins told Long he "abused the trust" of vulnerable people and sent false letters saying their money was held in interest-bearing accounts.
Terrorism
Muhammad Billal, 19, of Nelson, Lancashire, was handed an extended sentence of 13-and-a-half years in custody plus five years on extended licence after admitting planning a terrorist attack with a gun. He was arrested at Manchester Airport in November 2024 trying to fly to Dubai. The Old Bailey heard he intended to kill members of the public and hoped to be killed by police. Judge Cheema-Grubb said: "By your own account to the probation officer, you intended to kill members of the public and you hoped to be killed by police. You could not be sure that you would not have gone through with the attack." Billal repeatedly accessed Islamic State material, bought a gun on the dark web, and reconnoitred targets including churches, synagogues, train stations and Manchester United's stadium.
Alfie Coleman, 22, from Great Notley, Essex, was jailed for 13 and a half years for preparing terrorist acts after an MI5 undercover sting. He planned a mass gun attack and idolised Jo Cox killer Thomas Mair. He was caught buying a Makarov pistol, five magazines and 200 rounds of ammunition in a Morrisons car park in Stratford. Judge Richard Marks KC said he must be treated as a "dangerous offender" and described his views as "virulently racist".
Mohammad Bashir, 31, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years for planning a terror attack on the UK's Defence Academy in Shrivenham with Jihad Al-Shamie, who later killed two people at a Manchester synagogue. Bashir drove Al-Shamie on a 10-hour round trip to conduct hostile reconnaissance. Judge Cheema-Grubb said he had become a "firmly committed jihadist" and was "equally engaged and enthusiastic" in planning an attack "in which you and he expected to kill and be killed".
Murder and manslaughter
Aderahman Boumzough, 25, of no fixed address, was jailed for 35 years and 169 days for the murder of 15-year-old Rene Graham. Boumzough fired a single shot at the children's play area during a family music festival at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove in July 2024. Judge Simon James said Rene "should have had his whole life to realise his dreams and aspirations" and described the killing as a "premeditated public execution".
Daryl Berman, 72, of Prestwich, was jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years for murdering her husband David, 84. She claimed he fell on a knife, but a post-mortem concluded the injury was non-accidental. Judge Tina Landale said: "It appears something happened between you where David went to the floor and you stabbed him in the chest with severe force... Whatever the trigger was is unknown."
Kian Bateman, 19, of Cardiff, was jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years for murdering Shelley Davies, 38. He deliberately drove his car at a group outside the 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club, running over Ms Davies and seriously injuring her partner. Mrs Justice Stacey said Bateman did not see Ms Davies but was guilty of murder because she was in the way when he tried to cause serious harm to her partner.
Andrew Gorrell, 55, of Saltney, Flintshire, was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for murdering 82-year-old John Edwards. Gorrell set a wheelie bin on fire and placed it to block the front door of Mr Edwards's home in Wednesbury. Judge Michael Chambers KC said it was "clearly an evil random attack".
Michael Thompson, 56, of Northampton, was jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years for raping and murdering his estranged wife Kimberley. He staged the scene to look like suicide. He refused to attend his sentencing. Judge Nirmal Shant KC said he had shown "no remorse" and called his absence "the ultimate act of cowardice and contempt".
Tony Bartlett, 39, of Axminster, Devon, was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years for murdering his four-week-old son Atticus. The baby suffered severe injuries on July 16 2022. Mr Justice Cavanagh said he "shook him very violently indeed" after drinking eight-and-a-half pints of lager.
Harrison Simpson, 22, and Alexandra Walker, 26, were jailed for life for the murder of Walker's two-year-old daughter Isabelle Welsh. Simpson received a minimum of 28 years and six months; Walker 22 years. The toddler suffered 21 broken bones and sexual assault. Ms Justice Norton said the murder was the final act in a series of assaults.
Ellis Heather, 26, known as Rackz, from Slough, was jailed for life with a minimum of 28 years for murdering Stephen Morrisson, known as Zero Ls. Morrisson was fatally stabbed after disrupting a music video shoot in Epping in June 2020. Judge Nigel Lickley KC imposed the sentence.
Michael Stewart, 57, and Anthony Stewart, 60, were jailed for life for murdering civil servant Anthony Littler in 1984. Michael received a minimum of 10 years, Anthony 15 years. Their younger brother reported them in 2022, leading to their arrest. Mrs Justice Cutts said the attack was not impulsive but "lying in wait for a victim".
Sexual and violent crime
Brian Darby, 80, a former police officer, was jailed for four years for sharing rape and murder fantasies online and making indecent images of children. Darby, from Enfield, had been released on licence in 2017 after a life sentence for attempting to become a serial killer. Judge John Law said Darby may now die in jail and was "emotionally detached and indifferent".
David Pearce, 70, from Cambridgeshire, was jailed for 18 years for sexually assaulting children in 1990 and 1996. DNA evidence matched him 30 years later. Pearce preyed on children by pretending to be a caretaker or police officer.
Kenny Ralph Dalgleish, 38, an RAF serviceman, was given a 14-year extended sentence with 11 years in custody for a campaign of abuse against two women. Faye Cook, procurator fiscal, said his offending included non-fatal strangulation, "a particularly dangerous form of abuse".
Actor Iain Robertson, 45, was jailed for nine years plus a three-year extension period for rape and assault of three women. Lady Drummond said his offending involved "violence, coercion, intimidation, and sexual abuse".
Gerard Hutchings, 67, a former Hampshire Police inspector, was jailed for 10 years for conducting unnecessary strip searches on 18 young men and sexually assaulting some. Judge William Hart said his abuse was "made more grave by the seniority of your rank".
Ibrahim Alshafe, 26, Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, and Karin Al-Danasurt, 21, were jailed for raping a woman on Brighton beach. Alshafe and Ahmadi received 21 years each; Al-Danasurt received 18 years and six months. All three were also given six years on extended licence. Judge Christine Henson KC said they participated in "an entirely predatory and callous attack".
Other offences
Kiran Kaur, 53, of Southampton, was jailed for three years for assisting her son Vickrum Digwa, who murdered Henry Nowak. She removed the murder weapon from the crime scene and hid it. Judge William Mousley KC said a responsible parent would have encouraged their son to do the right thing.
Kyle Patrick, 23, was jailed for eight years for causing the death of Erin Slane, 19, by dangerous driving. Patrick drove at 119mph in a 60mph area with a high blood alcohol level. Lord Harrower said the incident was "no mere lapse of judgment".
Zak Archbold, 30, a UPS worker, was jailed for 12 years for his role in smuggling 290 kilos of cocaine. Steven Bullen, 51, who directed operations from Spain, was jailed for 16 years and four months. Judge Nathaniel Rudolf KC said they took part in "high-level criminality involving this amount of drugs".
