Stephen Alderton admits gunshot murders of father and son

A man has admitted the murders of a father and son who were found shot dead in two Cambridgeshire villages minutes apart.

Gary Dunmore, 57, and Josh Dunmore, 32, died of gunshot wounds at properties in Bluntisham and Sutton on 29 March.

Stephen Alderton, 67, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

Judge Mark Bishop said he would be sentenced in October.

Alderton denied one count of possession of a firearm - a double-barrelled shotgun - 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.

Wearing a grey polo shirt and blue jeans, the defendant showed no emotion in court, with family members of the victims watching on from the jury seats.

He spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his pleas.

No details of the case were presented at the hearing, but at the time of the shootings police described the incident as "targeted" and said the "primary line of investigation" was that the incident related to a "familial issue".

Prosecutor Mr Gair told the court they were "still at an early stage in terms of getting evidence that will help" in the case.

"There's an application before the family court," he said.

Police found the body of Josh Dunmore after gunshots were heard in Meridian Close, Bluntisham, just after 21:00 BST on 29 March.

Cambridgeshire Police said the 32-year-old was shot twice in the hallway of his home.

About 30 minutes later, Mr Dunmore's father, Gary, was shot three times at his home in The Row, Sutton.

The two properties are about six miles (10km) apart and located in the countryside between Ely and St Ives.

Police said Alderton drove off in his campervan, but was arrested at about 01:30 BST the following day on the M5 near Worcester.

A statement from the family of the two men issued at the time of their deaths described Josh as a "devoted father and a loving uncle".

It said: "He was a wonderful son and brother and leaves behind an extensive group of family and friends."

The family said 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," they added.

Det Ch Insp Katie Dounias, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Gary and Josh at this difficult time."

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook and Instagram. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected] or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830