[REVISION HISTORY]

James Desborough receives whole‑life orders for Cornwall

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2026-07-30 00:06 UTC → 2026-07-30 09:26 UTC · added ~~removed~~

James Desborough receives whole‑life orders for Cornwall ~~and~~

Winchester Crown Court confirmed James Desborough’s conviction for three murders. A jury took three hours and 15 minutes to find the 40‑year‑old guilty of killing two homeless men – Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43 – whose dismembered remains were recovered from Sticker Woods and a nearby stream, including about 1,900 burned bone fragments and torso parts hidden in a shallow grave. While on remand for those killings, Desborough strangled his cellmate, 65‑year‑old Steven Kempster, at HMP Exeter after becoming irritated by the prisoner’s snoring. He is already serving a life sentence with a 19‑year minimum for that murder. On 28 July 2026 the court sentenced Desborough to two whole‑life orders for the Cornwall murders, meaning he will remain in prison for the rest of his life in addition to his existing life term. Prosecutors highlighted his financial exploitation of the victims, noting he accessed their bank accounts and spent the money on drugs and alcohol. Journal notes recovered from his cabin included “Bug out list” and “Hostiles,” and he told a forensic biologist he “enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” from the TV series *Dexter*. Police continue to review four unexplained deaths that occurred at the Sandy Lodge homeless shelter where Desborough had been staying, although he is not currently a suspect.

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