How serial killer James Desborough preyed on vulnerable homeless men

Aquilino was described to the court as being "a man with little means but strong family ties".By the time he met Desborough at Sandy Lodge, which housed homeless people in Newquay, Aquilino had spent years struggling with addiction and poor mental health.In 2018, his partner of 20 years died from a drug overdose. In the years that followed, Aquilino reported attempting suicide, while services involved in his care noted he was vulnerable to physical, psychological and financial abuse "by known individuals in his own home".By April 2025, he was described as "doing well", going to the gym and feeling settled in the seaside town.And despite his difficulties, Aquilino remained close to his mother in Italy, calling her every day.When those calls stopped, his family knew something was wrong.Coleman's younger brother Tony Nye remembers him as "loving, caring, kind, friendly, funny... an amazing singer, an amazing cook".Despite the trauma and alcohol-related health problems that marked much of Coleman's life, he remained close to his family, particularly his grandmother, who raised him.Nye said: "He would call her every day. Without fail."But then he too stopped calling.The court heard Coleman had experienced significant trauma from a young age. His medical notes recorded he had been kidnapped and stabbed aged 13 before escaping by climbing out of a second-floor window.As an adult, he was the victim of a hit-and-run and multiple other assaults, the court heard.Coleman also ended up living at Sandy Lodge in Newquay. After losing his accommodation there, he later spent time living on Desborough's land near Sticker – just as Aquilino had before him.Coleman was last seen alive on 3 June, after spending the day drinking with Desborough at a number of pubs in Truro and Falmouth.The pair returned to Paramoor Woods by bus and at about 21:00 BST Coleman rang his grandmother for the final time.Prosecutors believe Desborough likely killed him in the early hours the following day. Aquilino, they believe, had already been dead for weeks.