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Man shoots father and son dead over family court case

Stephen Alderton shot dead father Gary Dunmore and his son Joshua (Picture: Cambridge Police)
Stephen Alderton shot dead father Gary Dunmore and his son Joshua (Picture: Cambridge Police)

A man killed his daughter’s ex-partner and her ex-partner’s father with a shotgun over a family court case they were all involved in.

Stephen Alderton, 67, shot dead the father, Gary Dunmore, and his son, Joshua Dunmore over a case involving his own grandson, a court has heard.

The father and son were found dead in homes six miles apart from each other in Cambridgeshire in March.

He was arrested hours after the attack by armed officers and told police ‘sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if it’s wrong in the eyes of the law’, said prosecutor Stephen Gair.

Undated handout photo issued by Cambridgeshire Police of Gary Dunmore, 57, who's body was found in Sutton, Cambridgeshire, by police and had died from gunshot wounds. Issue date: Friday March 31, 2023. PA Photo. They were earlier called to Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, where they found the body of Gary's son Josh Dunmore, who had also died from gunshot wounds. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said Stephen Alderton, 66, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of possession of a firearm. See PA story POLICE Cambridgeshire. Photo credit should read: Cambridgeshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Gary Dunmore was found dead of a gunshot wound alongside his son (Picture: PA)

Alderton, who wore a crucifix around his neck as he appeared in a secure dock at Cambridge Crown Court, had written ‘I’ve a shortlist of people I intend to murder’ in a text message last year.

The defendant, who didn’t have a fixed address, pleaded guilty to the murders of 32-year-old Joshua Dunmore and 57-year-old Gary Dunmore at a hearing earlier this year on March 29.

His sentencing was due to take place today but it has been adjourned until Monday.

Mr Gair said Alderton committed the murders two days after a family court case took place.

Undated handout photo issued by Cambridgeshire Police of Stephen Alderton who is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting the murders of a father and son who were shot dead in two villages six miles apart. The bodies of Gary Dunmore, 57, and Joshua Dunmore, 32, were discovered at properties in The Row, Sutton, and Meridian Close, Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, on March 29. The 67-year-old pleaded guilty to their murders during a brief appearance before Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday. Issue date: Wednesday June 28, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Cambridgeshire. Photo credit should read: Cambridgeshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Stephen Alderton, 67, pleaded guilty to their murders during a brief appearance before Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (Picture: PA)

Joshua Dunmore was found dead at his home in Bluntisham and his father at his home in Sutton – villages that lie six miles apart from each other in Cambridgeshire.

Mr Gair 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.

‘This concerned a request to move their seven-year-old child from the jurisdiction of the court by emigrating to the USA.’

He said Mrs Stephen and Mr Dunmore’s relationship ended shortly after their son was born.

Undated handout photo issued by Cambridgeshire Police of Joshua Dunmore, 32, who's body the police found with a gunshot wound on Wednesday evening in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire. Issue date: Friday March 31, 2023. PA Photo. They were later called to a second property in in Sutton, where they found the body of Josh's father Gary Dunmore, who had also died from gunshot wounds. Cambridgeshire Constabulary said Stephen Alderton, 66, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of possession of a firearm. See PA story POLICE Cambridgeshire. Photo credit should read: Cambridgeshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Joshua Dunmore was found dead at his home in a village six miles away from his father (Picture: PA)

Then in 2020, Mrs Stephen married her current partner, Paul Stephen.

Mr Gair added that Mr Stephen, who is a US national, served with the US Air Force.

‘He was due to be redeployed back to the USA,’ Mr Gair said.

He continued, saying they ‘sought permission of the family court and Joshua opposed the application’.

‘There was a hearing on March 27 2023 and it would appear (the child) wouldn’t be removed from the jurisdiction,’ Mr Gair said.

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