Moment murderer John Belfield taken off plane and arrested
Belfield fled Manchester the day after the "horrific" killing, going first to North Wales before catching a ferry to Ireland, Greater Manchester Police said.He then travelled to Amsterdam, France, Spain and then to Brazil before arriving in Suriname, the former Dutch colony on the north eastern coast of South America.His trip home though was far simpler.Just over a year after the murder he was arrested in Suriname for drug offences and had served a year's sentence there before he was returned to Manchester Airport.There were cries of "rot in hell" from the public gallery at Manchester Crown Court as Belfield was sentenced.
In 2022, Belfield had put a tracker on Mr Campbell's car to find out where he lived. On 2 July he lay in wait for him to come home before inflicting hours of torturous violence on him. The gang ambushed him at his front door, assaulted him, and dragged him inside.For two hours Mr Campbell was stabbed, strangled and had hot liquid poured on his genitals, the trial heard.A post mortem examination showed he suffered more than 61 injuries.After Mr Campbell was "tortured to death", Det Sgt Paul Davies said Belfield "cowardly went on the run".When his associates went on trial in 2023, he said Belfield sent messages from abroad "looking to influence proceedings".
Belfield showed "complete disregard for the victim and a true lack of remorse, which is testament to his character," Det Sgt Davies added.During the murder inquiry, detectives analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV and nearly 3,000 exhibits, spoke to more than 200 witnesses and arrested 19 people, the force said. Belfield's associates, Reece Steven, 29, of Middleton, Steven Cleworth, 38, of Heywood, and Mr Campbell's ex-wife Coleen Campbell, 38, of Manchester, were also jailed over Mr Campbell's death. Mr Campbell's father, Terry Campbell said in his victim impact statement there were "no words" to describe his family's loss."We all live with a broken heart," he added.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Gregg Wallace claims he has been cleared of misconduct allegations
TV presenter Gregg Wallace has claimed he has been cleared of the 'most serious and sensational accusations' against him ahead of a report examining the MasterChef host's alleged misconduct. The 60-year-old stepped away from hosting the BBC cooking competition, after a number of historical complaints came to light last year, which led to the external investigation by the show's production company, Banijay UK. Advertisement A BBC News investigation reported that 13 people alleged Wallace had made inappropriate sexual comments across a range of shows over a 17-year period. The production firm previously said Wallace is 'committed to fully co-operating' with the external review while his lawyers have previously strongly denied 'he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature', according to BBC News. Gregg Wallace co-presented Master Chef UK until last year. Photo: Ian West/PA. In a statement posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday, he said: 'I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins (sic) report – a decision I do not take lightly. 'After 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. Advertisement 'I have now been cleared by the Silkins (sic) report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. 'The most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation.' BBC spokesperson said: 'Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. We are not going to comment until the investigation is complete and the findings are published.' Banijay UK declined to comment on Wallace's comments. Advertisement
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
'I will not go quietly,' Gregg Wallace says amid reports he's been dropped by the BBC
Former MasterChef host Gregg Wallace has vowed he will "not go quietly", amid reports that he has been dropped by the BBC. It comes after the TV host faced an investigation, commission by MasterChef's production company Banijay UK, into alleged inappropriate behaviour while working for the BBC. In November, he stepped back from presenting the cooking show after accusations that he made sexual comments towards staff and celebrity guests on a range of programmes over 17 years. In a statement, released ahead of the publication of the summary of a report into the claims, the 60-year-old said he had been "cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations" made against him. However, he said the report, carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin, had found him "primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018". In a statement, published on Instagram, Wallace wrote: "I have taken the decision to speak out ahead of the publication of the Silkins report - a decision I do not take lightly. "But after 21 years of loyal service to the BBC, I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others. "I have now been cleared by the Silkins report of the most serious and sensational accusations made against me. "The most damaging claims (including from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless after a full and forensic six-month investigation. "To be clear, the Silkins Report exonerates me of all the serious allegations which made headlines last year and finds me primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018." Wallace said he recognised that "some of my humour and language" was at times "inappropriate" and that he apologised "without reservation". "But I was never the caricature now being sold for clicks," Wallace, who also referred to his recent diagnosis of autism, added. "I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges, and all. "For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem."
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Police name man who was murdered in Ayr flat
Police have named a man who died in a flat in Ayr at the Blackwood, 42, was found seriously injured in a flat in Glenmuir Place, at about 20:10 on Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police Scotland said his death is now being treated as murder following a post-mortem examination. Det Insp Steven Slater of the force's major investigation team, has urged anyone with information to come forward."Our thoughts are with Mark's family and friends at this very difficult time," he said."It is vital that we get answers for them and we are fully committed to this."An extensive investigation is ongoing and officers are following a number of lines of enquiry."He has asked anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information or CCTV footage to contact Police Scotland via a dedicated online form.
