Man, 67, admits murdering father and son who were shot dead in two villages six miles apart amid bitter custody battle
- Stephen Alderton admitted two counts of murder at Cambridge Crown Court
A 67-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murdering a father and son who were shot dead mid bitter custody battle in two villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire.
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.
Stephen Alderton, the maternal grandfather of Joshua’s young son, was arrested the same evening and charged with their murders and possession of a firearm.
Alderton, of no fixed address, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court today where he pleaded guilty to two counts of murder. He denied one count of possession of a firearm, a double-barrelled shotgun, with intent to cause fear of violence to another person.
Judge Mark Bishop remanded him in custody to be sentenced on October 20.
The bodies of Gary Dunmore, 57, (left) and Joshua Dunmore, 32, (right) were discovered at properties in The Row, Sutton, and Meridian Close, Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, on March 29.
Stephen Alderton (pictured) has pleaded guilty to murdering a father and son who were shot dead in two villages six miles apart in Cambridgeshire
Wearing a grey polo shirt and blue jeans, the defendant showed no emotion as he entered his pleas today, with family members of the victim watching on from the jury seats of the court.
Alderton spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his pleas, which including pleading guilty to murder and denying one count of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence to another person.
Prosecutor Peter Gair said there was ‘no public interest to be served by seeking a trial’ on the count and the judge ordered that it lie on file.
Joshua was found with shotgun wounds to his head and chest and pronounced dead at 9.40pm on March 29 at his home in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, the inquest heard
Gary was also found dead at his home in Sutton, Cambridgeshire, 20 minutes later, with shotgun wounds to his head and torso.
In March, MailOnline revealed that Joshua had been celebrating after successfully stopping his former partner and her husband from taking his son to America.
He had turned up to a boxing gym close to his home ‘buzzing’ after being given the good news, friends claimed, and was looking forward to having his son for a week over Easter.
But Joshua and his father were soon allegedly gunned down by his ex-lover’s father in the ‘targeted’ double shooting.
Joshua was found with shotgun wounds to his head and chest and pronounced dead at 9.40pm on March 29 at his home in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire, the inquest heard
Police at the scene where Gary was found dead in March. At 9.37pm, police were called by a person in Sutton, near Ely, also reporting hearing gunshots
The victims’ family paid tribute to the ‘devoted’ father and son in a statement released via Cambridgeshire Police in April.
The family said: ‘Josh was a devoted father and a loving uncle. He was a wonderful son and brother and leaves behind an extensive group of family and friends.
‘He will be deeply missed and the devastation this has caused will never heal. Gary was the most devoted son, brother, dad and grandad, who gave everything for those he loved.’
‘He was a gentle and generous person who always put others before himself and he’ll be massively missed by his family and all those who knew and loved him.’
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