Nicholas Wright: Murdered in Grimson's home

"You are a highly dangerous serial killer who killed two young men in horrifying and appalling circumstances."

The bodies of the two victims were discovered four miles apart at the side of country lanes north of Winchester, Hampshire, in December 1999.

Nicholas Wright was found in a field next to the A272 at Cheriton.

The body of Sion Jenkins was discovered near to the A32 at West Tisted.

'Feeling of power'

The court heard that Grimson, 42, had described to police how attacking Mr Wright had given him a feeling which was "better than sex".

Anthony Donne QC, prosecuting, said that in an interview, Grimson had said he had punched the air in triumph and let out a roar after hitting the teenager with a baseball bat, slitting his throat and slicing off his ear.

He told officers: "It was such a feeling. I have never had that feeling. It was a feeling of power, a good feeling."

Sion Jenkins: Body found by the side of a country lane

Mr Donne told the court that Grimson, who was from North Shields, had met the young recruit Mr Wright on a fire training course in Portsmouth in November 1997.

Grimson, of London Road, Portsmouth, had given Mr Wright his telephone number to see if he wanted a lift back home to Leicester.

At the time, Mr Wright had been concerned about it.

He had consulted his family, asking them if Grimson could be homosexual, and they had told him to take care, the court was told.

The following month, Mr Wright and Grimson went back to Grimson's home after leaving a Portsmouth nightclub.

Mr Donne said Grimson told police he had touched and kissed Mr Wright.

He had then told the teenager he wanted to go upstairs, but Mr Wright had refused, and Grimson had become angry.

He punched him in the face and hit him with a baseball bat.

Grimson, who has been in the Navy for more than 20 years, told officers Mr Wright had said: "Why don't you kill me?"

Mr Donne said: "The defendant in his own words said he just lost it.

"He struck him severely hard blows to the head, cut his throat with a carving knife and threw him in the bath."

Grimson had explained that the killing had not been sexual, but one of control and power, the court heard.

Second killing

Mr Jenkins had been murdered a year later, again, after accompanying Grimson back to his home.

The court was told that when Mr Jenkins refused to have sex with him, Grimson got angry and attacked him.

During the night, the pair did have sex, but in the morning, when Mr Jenkins said he wanted to leave, Grimson killed him with a baseball bat.

Before he was sentenced, Grimson admitted killing Mr Wright some time between 11 December 1997 and 17 December 1999, and Mr Jenkins some time between 1 November 1998 and 18 December 1999.