A 20-year-old man from Bournemouth has been sentenced to eight years in a young offenders institution for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Cameron Hamilton.
Thomas Betteridge was sentenced on 8 May 2026 at Bournemouth Crown Court after being found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a bladed article. The conviction follows a retrial earlier this year after an initial 2024 conviction was overturned on appeal.
The incident occurred in the early hours of 5 August 2023 in The Square in Bournemouth. Cameron Hamilton was stabbed twice during an altercation. Despite immediate efforts by Dorset Police officers who arrived within seconds and attending paramedics, he died at the scene.
The court heard that Betteridge was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine during the attack. Lennie Hansen, 18, of Waterlooville, was also convicted for his role in the incident, having brought the 12.5cm knife used in the attack to the scene. Hansen received a 13-month custodial sentence.
Following the death of her grandson, Tracy Jose established the Changes Are Made charity. The organisation continues to work within the community to raise awareness about the serious consequences of knife crime. While Dorset continues to maintain some of the lowest rates of knife crime in England and Wales, the force remains focused on the issue as a key priority.
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