Watch moment ‘murder shortlist’ killer arrested after gunning down daughter’s ex and dad

A family member of Joshua Dunmore and his dad Gary, who were shot dead by Stephen Alderton, shouted “rot in prison” as he was led to the cells following today’s sentencing

Moment killer Stephen Alderton is arrested

This is the moment a widower was arrested by armed cops[1] on the motorway after shooting dead a father and son in two villages six miles apart.

Stephen Alderton, 67, was jailed for life[2] with a minimum of 25 years after blasting his daughter’s ex-boyfriend Joshua Dunmore, 32, in the chest with a Beretta shotgun at his home in Bluntisham, Cambridgeshire[3], on 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 pulled over on the M5 near Worcester in the early hours of the next morning. Footage shows officers shouting “put your hands where we can see them” as he exits the vehicle and holds up his hands.

He then slowly walks towards the cop, who is pointing a gun at him, and gets down on the ground where he is handcuffed. He later told officers: “Sometimes you have to do what you have to do even if it’s wrong in the eyes of the law.”

Footage shows Alderton being arrested on the motorway
Footage shows Alderton being arrested on the motorway

The former chartered quantity surveyor had written in previous text messages that he would “override any court decision” and there was “always a plan B”. He is also said to have claimed in a message he had “a shortlist of people he intended to murder”.

The defendant, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to murdering Joshua and Gary. 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.

During the 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.

Joshua Dunmore (right), 32, and his dad Gary (left) were both shot dead in March this year
Joshua Dunmore (right), 32, and his dad Gary (left) were both shot dead in March this year(PA)

“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.

Former chartered quantity surveyor Alderton
Former chartered quantity surveyor Alderton(Terry Harris)
He was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years
He was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years(PA)

The murder scene in Cambridgeshire earlier this year
The murder scene in Cambridgeshire earlier this year(Phil Harris)

References

  1. ^ cops (www.mirror.co.uk)
  2. ^ jailed for life (www.mirror.co.uk)
  3. ^ Cambridgeshire (www.mirror.co.uk)