Serial killer James Desborough gets whole life order - as police review deaths of four people he lived with

Triple murderer James Desborough has been sentenced to a whole life order - with police also reviewing the deaths of four other people he once lived with.

The 40-year-old was found guilty on Tuesday and was told today he would never be released after killing two men he once lived with at a homeless hostel in Newquay, Cornwall.

Their bodies were dismembered and hidden in woodland.

Desborough - who said he was a fan of serial killer show Dexter - murdered Daniel Coleman, 43, and Claudio Aquilino, 57, last summer.

While waiting for the trial to start, he strangled his prison cellmate, Steven Kempster, 65, because he was irritated by his snoring.

Desborough was found guilty of that murder in March.

The judge at Winchester Crown Court told him he was "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," said Mr Justice Saini.

Police have also revealed they are still reviewing the unexplained deaths of two men and two women who were at the homeless shelter at the same time as Desborough, between December 2024 and April 2025.

Detective Superintendent Rachael Bentley said they currently don't believe Desborough is a suspect but the investigation into the deaths at Sandy Lodge Hotel is ongoing with "some final reviews to be done".

Officers attended each of the deaths at the time and inquiries suggested natural causes.

However, the coroner paused its investigation when Desborough was arrested for murder and a review began that included extra forensic work, looking at CCTV and taking statements.

"I said before there's no other information that's come into the investigation that suggests that he's linked to any of the deaths," said DS Bentley.

"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."

Desborough, who weights nearly 18st, killed Coleman and Aquilino and spent their money on drink and drugs.

He claimed they had left Cornwall but their bodies were found in Sticker Woods, near St Austell, where Desborough lived in a wooden cabin.

Some 1,900 burned bone fragments from Mr Aquilino were also discovered in a stream.

Parts of Mr Coleman's body were found in a shallow grave. His genitals have never been found and police haven't ruled out they may have been deliberately removed.

Prosecutors said Desborough was jealous of Mr Coleman because he had developed a sexual interest in his friend's ex-wife.

The killer also told a forensic biologist he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in TV series Dexter.

The father-of-one denied the 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.

(c) Sky News 2026: Serial killer James Desborough gets whole life order - as police review deaths of four people he li