Man sentenced after 'brutally' killing grandmother who tried to care for him

The family of a murderer who 'brutally' killed his own grandmother who tried to care for him said they will never forgive him as he was jailed for life.

Cameron Dancey-Stevenson, 27, was told he would serve a minimum of 18 years for murdering Alison Stevenson, 62, in a stabbing frenzy launched while she slept at home.

A trial heard she had tried for years to help him overcome his 'difficulties' and still 'loved him' even after he had attacked her previously and been given a restraining order.

But on May 25, 2021, while holding a grudge over the order, he broke in through a window of her home in Helston, Cornwall, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and started stabbing her in the neck while she lay in bed.

After her death, Dancey-Stevenson then spent 'many hours' trying to wash away evidence and blamed a 'fictitious' man for killing her.

He was found guilty yesterday (29 August) at Exeter Crown Court of murder after a two-week trial and was sentenced today.

During today's hearing, a statement from Marina Stevenson, the victim's daughter, was read to the court on behalf of the family which said they could never forgive him for what he had done.

She said Alison was so caring and loving and had done everything she could to support her grandson.

And she told him: "You are no longer her grandson - you are her murderer."

She said the whole family had struggled to come to terms with losing such a loving woman to such a "brutal act."

Adding: "This was made more devastating that it was you Cameron, her grandson, who she loved dearly. She did all she could to help you.

"She did live in fear of you and what you would do if you didn't get your own way. In fact, you felt your entire family was against you - you never looked at all the things done for you.

"You only cared about yourself and what you were going to get out of it."

Marina said her mother would have been "extremely scared" as she "died at your hands" in those "last few seconds as she was trying to defend herself from her grandson."

She added: "That word, grandson, a family member, her blood. You are no longer her grandson - you are her murderer."

She said her sister, the defendant's mother, had not slept properly since the attack and had "constant images" in her mind.

Adding: "She cannot comprehend how the child she brought into this world - loved cherished and supported throughout his life - committed this horrendous act.

"I hope you get the mental health support you need. I don't think anyone else can support you more than Alison did.

"You had the same advantages in life the rest of us had - but you always seemed to demand more of your mother and grandmother.

"As a family we will never forgive you for your actions. You are a selfish man who knew, as you always did, what you were doing."

Paying tribute to the victim, Marina added: "Alison was a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece cousin, and grandmother.

"She loved cooking, gardening, and most importantly her family. Nothing was too much trouble for Alison and she would help everyone Everyone that knew her talks highly of her."

In passing the minimum term, Judge Simon Carr said Alison was the sort of person who would put herself out to help others. He said: "There was clear evidence that you were angry with her and blamed her for your predicament. You saw her as a cause of your problems - nothing could be further from the truth."

He said after breaking in through a kitchen window he took a knife and started attacking her while she was asleep.

Adding: "The attack itself was truly brutal. Photos of injuries to the right of the neck are truly harrowing."

The judge said after the attack, Dancey-Stevenson remained in the house for a number of hours to try and "remove all forensic evidence of your presence."

He then invented a fictitious man who he claimed had carried out the killing.

Even after she had been attacked by Dancey-Stevenson, the judge said: "Throughout this time she never stopped loving you and worrying about you."

"She occasionally allowed you to stay as you were often homeless. She knew this was in breach of the restraining order but she could not stand by and do nothing - such was the generosity of her character."

He said she found it "increasingly difficult to address your behaviour" and said she "finally had no choice but for her own safety to instruct you to stay away from her house."

Dancey-Stevenson, who is currently a patient at the Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, was told he would only be freed on parole after serving the minimum term if he was no longer deemed a danger to the public.