Man who killed father and son in Cambridgeshire has prison sentence increased

A man who killed a father and son has had the minimum term of his life sentence increased after it was referred to the Court of Appeal.

The decision came after the solicitor general referred Stephen Alderton’s sentence as being unduly lenient.

Alderton, 67, of no fixed abode, shot Joshua Dunmore, 32, twice in the hallway of his home in Meridian Close, Bluntisham, at 9.09pm on 29 March last year.

Thirty-one minutes later, he shot Gary Dunmore, 57, three times in the hallway of his home in The Row, Sutton.

The solicitor general Robert Courts KC MP said on Tuesday: “Stephen Alderton’s brutal killing spree has ripped apart a family. His despicable acts of violence are deplorable, and I extend my condolences to the Dunmore family.

“I welcome the court’s decision to extend Alderton’s sentence, and hope it sends a clear message that those who commit murder will face the full force of the law.”

Prior to the ruling, Alderton had written in text messages that he would “override any court decision”.

Alderton received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years at Cambridge Crown Court on 23 October 2023 for two counts of murder.

Today (Tuesday) the Court of Appeal increased Alderton’s minimum term to 30 years after it was referred under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.