James Desborough, a 40-year-old convicted serial murderer who claimed to be a fan of the television series Dexter, has been handed a whole life order at Winchester Crown Court. The sentence comes after he was convicted of three killings, including the murder of his prison cellmate while on remand.
Police investigate four deaths at homeless shelter
Devon and Cornwall Police are now investigating four unexplained deaths at Sandy Lodge Hotel, a homeless shelter in Newquay, Cornwall, where Desborough lived between December 2024 and April 2025. During this period, two men and two women died unexpectedly at the facility. Detective Superintendent Rachel Bentley stated that while the force does not believe there is a link at this time, the investigation is ongoing with some final reviews to be completed.
Det Supt Bentley explained: "We don't believe we're looking for any victims, but I do want to stress that the investigations are ongoing. They are going to be reviewed again now the trial has concluded, but at this time we are not looking at any other investigations and at this time he's not a suspect in any other deaths." She added that officers had attended each of the four deaths and initial enquiries suggested natural causes, but those coronial investigations paused when Desborough was arrested for murder.
Details of the murders
Desborough was convicted of killing Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, both of whom lived with him at the hostel. Their dismembered bodies were found 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, while parts of Mr Coleman's body, including his torso, legs and feet, were found in a shallow grave nearby.
Desborough, a former builder, was already serving a life sentence for strangling his cellmate Steven Kempster at HMP Exeter while on remand. His killing of three people in separate incidents over five months led to his classification as a serial killer. During the investigation, Desborough told a forensic biologist searching for Mr Coleman's body that he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in the television series Dexter. The father-of-one, who is 5ft 10in and weighs almost 18 stone, spent his victims' money on drugs and alcohol.
Ongoing investigations
Det Supt Bentley confirmed that the major crime investigation team had commenced a review of the four shelter deaths and conducted further inquiries. She said: "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." The force emphasised that no other information has come to light suggesting Desborough is linked to any other deaths, and at this time he is not a suspect in any additional incidents.
