Double killer who had 'murder shortlist' jailed after shooting dad and son

A widower who shot dead a father and son in two villages six miles apart over a family court case involving his grandson has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.

Stephen Alderton, 67, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder after blasting his daughter's ex-boyfriend Joshua Dunmore, 32, in the chest with a Beretta shotgun at his home in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, on the night of March 29 this year. He then shot Josh's dad Gary at his home in nearby Sutton half an hour later.

He tried to flee in his campervan, but was stopped by police on the M5 in Worcestershire in the early hours of the next morning, where he told officers: "Sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if it's wrong in the eyes of the law", Cambridge Crown Court was previously told.

Following today's sentencing, a family member of the two deceased swore and shouted "rot in prison", followed by brief applause, as Alderton was led to the cells. Other relatives wept as they filed out of the courtroom.

Joshua Dunmore, 32, who died from a gunshot wound in March this year (PA)

Josh's dad Gary, 57, was shot dead half an hour later (PA)

Judge Mark Bishop described Alderton's murders as an "execution". He told the defendant, who wore a silver crucifix necklace in court: "You took the decision to take the law into your own hands and end the lives of two innocent men."

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He said Alderton did this over his "distorted beliefs" about family court proceedings involving his grandson "following what was an interim and not final hearing on March 27". Alderton bowed his head as the judge sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.

The killer had written in previous text messages that he would "override any court decision" and that there was "always a plan B", the court previously heard. He is also said to have claimed in a message he had "a shortlist of people he intended to murder".

During Alderton's trial, prosecutor Stephen Gair told how the murders came two days after a family court hearing. He said: "We say it's clear that the events were triggered by an ongoing family court case between this defendant's daughter Samantha Stephen, nee Alderton, and her former partner Joshua Dunmore.

Josh was described as a "devoted father"

"This concerned a request to move their child from the jurisdiction of the court by emigrating to the USA." He said that Mrs Stephen and Mr Dunmore's relationship ended shortly after their son was born and in 2020 she married her current partner, Paul Stephen.

Mr Gair said Mr Stephen, a US national, served with the US Air Force and was due to be redeployed back to the USA. He said they "sought permission of the family court and Joshua opposed the application", adding: "There was a hearing on March 27 2023 and it would appear (the child) wouldn't be removed from the jurisdiction."

Adrian Langdale KC, mitigating for Alderton, said Alderton's wife died in December 2019. Mr Gair said Alderton sold his home and was living at the time of the offences in a motorhome on a site in Willingham, Cambridgeshire.

Forensics at the address in Sutton on March 30 (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

Mr Gair said that Alderton was "rapidly identified" as a suspect after the shootings due to the family court case and sightings of the white Peugeot. His motorhome was picked up by police using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras.

He was stopped by armed police from the West Mercia force on the M5 near Worcester at about 1.30am on March 30, police said. Mr Langdale said the defendant wrote in a letter: "I'm not the person that this conflict and the family courts have driven me to become.

"I've never been a violent person, I do not have a criminal record. I've been a respectable, law-abiding citizen all my life. What happened to me on March 29 I do not know." Josh was described by family at the time of the murders as a devoted father and loving uncle, while his dad was remembered as a "gentle giant".

In an earlier victim impact statement, Gary's mum Jane Phillips said: “Both were killed in the most vicious, cowardly way with no opportunity for self-defence.” Mandy Seamark, Joshua's mother, said in a statement that “words cannot describe the devastation” of Alderton's actions.

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Gary and Joshua's loved ones made no comment as they left Cambridge Crown Court following Alderton's sentencing on Monday.