Life Behind Bars for Bournemouth Killer Benjamin Atkins
Benjamin Atkins, 49, has been handed a life sentence for the brutal murder of Simon Shotton in Bournemouth. The chilling verdict came down at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, 26 July 2024, following Atkins’ earlier conviction.
Body Parts Found Spark Grisly Investigation
The shocking case erupted when members of the public discovered human remains near Manor Steps Zig Zag, Boscombe, in August 2023. The initial find was a package containing part of a human leg. A second package soon followed. Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) launched a thorough investigation.
Forensic analysis confirmed the victim was 49-year-old Simon Shotton, who had been staying with Atkins and his co-defendant Debbie Ann Pereira, 39, at an address on Aylesbury Road, Bournemouth.
Co-Defendant Gets Jail Over Cover-Up Role
Pereira was sentenced to four years for perverting the course of justice and preventing the burial of a corpse. CCTV footage showed Atkins and Pereira selling Shotton’s phone at a Boscombe Cash Creators store after the murder.
More Remains Found as Police Close In
In the weeks following arrests on 1 September 2023, police uncovered more body parts in the garden of the property and a human torso inside a suitcase near Boscombe Chine Gardens. Further bone fragments from Shotton’s skull were uncovered after Atkins gave information to police in February 2024.
“This was an abhorrent act,” said Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third. “Our priority was securing justice for Simon Shotton’s family and holding Atkins and Pereira responsible for their horrific actions.”
Shotton’s family issued a heartfelt statement, thanking everyone involved: “Special thanks to the jury for enduring difficult evidence and to our family liaison officers Liz and George for their unwavering support. There will be no further comments from the family.”
