Latest news with #ManchesterCrownCourt
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Killer' told man he tortured to death he was going to s**g his ex-wife, court told
AN ALLEGED killer told the man he tortured to death he was going to "s**g" his ex-wife, a court heard. Thomas Campbell was discovered naked and bound with duct tape in his hallway after he ambushed on his doorstep. 6 John Belfield is accused of murdering Thomas Campbell Credit: MEN Media 6 Thomas' ex Coleen was previously jailed for plotting the murder Credit: Steve Allen 6 Thomas was found dead by his neighbours Credit: MEN Media Before his death, Thomas had been dating John Belfield's ex Demi-Lee Driver and he was "hostile" about the relationship, it was said. The 31-year-old allegedly masterminded the plot to murder Thomas at his home in Mossley, Greater Manchester. Manchester Crown Court heard he was passed information to aid in the killing by Thomas' ex-wife Coleen Campbell, who has been jailed for 13 years. Jurors were told today Belfield had sent Thomas a message before the horror , saying: "I'm going to s**g her for the point of it as well as saying you like her you soft boy." Giving evidence, he said he later deleted the message as he had been a "bit upset" when he sent it and realised it was a "bad idea". Belfield also denied that he was "obsessed" by his ex-Demi -Thomas' girlfriend - and claimed he was in "multiple" relationships at the time. But jurors heard he had messaged Demi-Lee before the killing to tell her "you're mine". He also text his ex, saying: "You will never have a boyfriend you will have to move country give it a week and you will see why and happens when you take the p***." Most read in The Sun Belfield denied he was threatening Demi-Lee, adding: "I'm not going to do anything to her. She knows I wouldn't do anything to her." The prosecutor said a few days after the messages, Thomas died in the "most terrible way". Jurors heard Thomas was murdered on July 3, 2022, after three men "pounced" on him as he arrived home late from a night out. A post mortem found injuries to his head and neck suggested a "sustained blunt sharp force physical assault". The dad also had burns on his body that were caused by a "hot liquid such as hot water". After his naked body was found by neighbours , Belfied travelled to South America. He allegedly sent a series of texts following the horror - callously joking the victim must have "bled everywhere". His alleged "right-hand man" Reece Steven, who has been jailed for Thomas' murder, replied: "Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere." The court heard a tracking device was placed on Thomas's car and "reconnaissance" was carried out in the days before he died. Belfied allegedly attached the tracker but was not one of the three men who ambushed Thomas, it was said. Read more on the Irish Sun He denies murder and conspiracy to rob. The trial continues. 6 Campbell had passed on information about her ex's whereabouts Credit: MEN Media 6 She was jailed for manslaughter following the horror Credit: MEN Media 6 Thomas was found tortured in his home Credit: MEN Media
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Lucy Letby prison guard reveals what baby killer is REALLY like in jail & chilling feature that made her ‘very strange'
THE prison officer who watched convicted baby murderer Lucy Letby on her first night on remand has revealed what she was like in jail. The guard, known only as Dave, watched the "very strange" killer during her brief stint at Styal Prison in Cheshire. 6 6 6 Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. Speaking on the Shaun Attwoods True Crime Podcast, he said that the 35-year-old was a 'very, very strange character'. Dave explained that he received a text offering overtime to be on 'constant watch' over a prisoner. However, he was not told it was Letby until the last minute when his boss broke the news. Dave spent the night with Letby during her first night on remand, after she had arrived fresh from court. He revealed that he was surprised at the child killer's 'dishevelled' appearance. He said: 'I turned up, sit down on the segregation and the first thing that sort of hit me, you see her in all these photographs, this normal looking blonde woman, and I was surprised at how sort of dishevelled she looked. 'She didn't have blonde hair, brown hair, she just looked sort of drained. "It was night time, I think she might have asked me what time it was at one point. There might have been a few words exchanged, not much.' Letby was only kept at Styal Prison for a handful of days before being transferred to another facility. The murderous nurse stood trial at Manchester Crown Court in 2022, where she pleaded not guilty to seven counts of murder and 15 counts of attempted murder. She was eventually convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of another seven and handed 15 whole-life sentences. Letby, from Hereford, committed her crimes while working in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 Dave said he didn't know whether other Styal inmates were aware she was in the same prison, but other female lags would 'not have treated her well' owing to the nature of her offences. The former neonatal worker has being seeing out her sentence in HMP Bronzefield, which houses many of the Britain's most notorious female prisoners. Letby is on the same wing killer mum Sian Hedges and Beinash Batool, who was jailed for killing stepdaughter Sara Sharif. Known as House Block 4, the unit is reserved for those serving life sentences and prisoners who have enhanced status due to good behaviour behind bars. Also on the same wing until her recent release was disgraced prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who was filmed having sex with a prison while working at Wandsworth Prison. 6 6 6 Letby lost two attempts to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal last year. In April a new email - sent on May 4 2017 to colleagues at the Countess of Chester Hospital - emrged which appears to cast significant doubts over the official chronology of events. The memo is a significant boost to Letby's legal fight to overturn her convictions. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was the latest official figure to reveal he has revealed he has "doubts" over Lucy Letby guilt. The Reform UK leader spoke about the case off the back of Jeremy Hunt's comment piece in the Mail last week. The former health secretary called for an "urgent re-examination" of Letby after "serious and credible" questions were raised by experts. The MP urged Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, to "speed up their normally painfully slow process". Speaking on GB News, Mr Farage agreed that he was also beginning to have 'doubts' about the case. He said: 'I have a feeling, actually, Jeremy Hunt might be right about the Lucy Letby case. "I'm just beginning to get more and more doubts about that issue." Cheshire Constabulary is still conducting a review of deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospital during Letby's time as a nurse from 2012 to 2016. The force have also launched another probe into allegations of corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Meanwhile Lady Justice Thirlwall is due to publish in November the findings from the public inquiry into how the former nurse was able to commit her crimes. The Sun revealed earlier this year what Letby's own parents, Jonathan, 79, and Susan Letby, 65, said about the case. In one correspondence, seen by The Sun, Letby's parents reveal they "firmly believe" their daughter's convictions will be "the biggest miscarriage of justice in British history". They also said they're pleased "public opinion is beginning to sway" in her favour "at last".
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Murder accused insists he was 'watching Finding Nemo' when ex's boyfriend died
John Belfield, 31, denies being one of three men who ambushed Thomas Campbell at his home and told a court that he was at home with his daughter and nieces watching Finding Nemo A man claims he was watching Finding Nemo with his daughter and nieces at the time he is accused of a murder. John Belfield, 31, denies being one of three men who ambushed Thomas Campbell at about 11pm at his home in Mossley, Tameside, in July 2, 2022. The 38-year-old was found dead in his hallway, naked apart from a pair of socks, the following morning by neighbours after being 'tortured to death', Manchester Crown Court has heard. Belfield, who prosecutors claim was the 'mastermind' of a plot to rob Mr Campbell, denies murder and conspiracy to rob. He has said he had spoken with others about a plan to steal drugs from Mr Campbell, believing that he stored drugs in fields, but he had no intention of using violence. Three people have previously been convicted in connection with Mr Campbell's death, following a trial in 2023. Mr Campbell's ex-wife Coleen Campbell was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiring to rob him, after she gave details about her ex-husband's movements, including passing on information from her children, jurors have heard. Stephen Cleworth, from Heywood, was also convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob. He placed a tracking device on Mr Campbell's car, but was not present at the scene of the murder. Reece Steven, from Middleton, was convicted of murder and conspiring to rob Mr Campbell. He was found to have been one of the three attackers present at the killing on July 2, 2022. Prosecutors have alleged Belfield had 'motivation' to rob Mr Campbell, because he was in a relationship with Demi-Lee Driver, the defendant's ex-partner. But Belfield has denied being jealous and said he ended their relationship. Belfield gave evidence from the witness box for a third day, under questioning from his barrister Richard Wright KC. He said he spent the evening of July 2 at his sister's home in Ashton-under-Lyne, after buying snacks from Asda for his daughter and nieces as they watched a film. He said Reece Steven, who had been present, left after 10pm. "I just sat down with the girls and put a film on," Belfield said. Asked what film they watched, he added: "I believe it was Finding Nemo. I can remember it quite well because it was the last time I was really around my daughter. "They fell asleep into it quite early, I carried them up at about 12 o'clock." Mr Belfield said he then watched TV before falling asleep on the couch. Asked if he was one of the three men who went to Mossley to attack Mr Campbell, the defendant said: "I didn't go to Thomas Campbell that night. I was at home with my daughter and my nieces. I wouldn't do a crime like that, ever. I was at home at my sister's." Belfield said he was woken up at about 3.30am on July 3, to find Steven at the front door. The defendant said: "He said he had been to Tom's to try and get the stash, and it had got a bit out of hand. He just said they had got into a bit of an altercation with Tom. He didn't really expand on it, but said an incident had happened. I just said I don't understand why he had come to my sister's at that point." Belfield said Steven was asking if he could use a vehicle. He agreed to let him use his sister's VW Golf. "I should have just told him to leave," Belfield said. "At that point I didn't know how bad the situation was at that point. I should have just turned him away." Belfield said he only learned that Mr Campbell had died on July 4 after being informed by Cleworth. Asked for his reaction after learning of his death, Belfield said: "I was more scared now what was going to happen to me, because of who Tom is and things like that." Mr Wright asked: "What did you have to worry about?" The defendant replied: "Because I now knew that my friends and associates have done this crime." Belfield said he then decided to leave Manchester. "I was absolutely terrified of what's going on," he said. Belfield said he travelled to Holyhead, before taking a ferry to Dublin. He said he then went to Amsterdam, then on to Spain before flying to Brazil. The defendant said he then travelled to Suriname. "I heard that Thomas Campbell's associates were trying to locate me in Spain because people knew I was in Spain," Belfield said. "My cousin was in Suriname at the time. I think he was wanted by the police so he was staying there. I was just more devastated that I was away from my child. It's not a very nice country to be honest. I was just there to keep myself safe." Belfield said he was arrested and later deported from the country to the Netherlands, and was then deported back to the UK. He says he was kept in custody in Suriname. "It was pretty horrendous to be honest," he said. Asked why he left the country, Belfield said: "Because I didn't want to put my family in danger by being in England." He said he feared that someone would 'attack and maybe kill me'. "Things happen where people retaliate and try and get people back, people can die," the defendant said. He denied that he had left because he had been involved in murdering Mr Campbell. The trial continues.
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey watches as her partner is jailed over boutique cannabis' operation
Chat logs showed Edward Rainford talking about money and different flavours including Oreo Cookie, Orange Cream and Wedding Cake. Hollyoaks star Chelsee Healey watched on in court as her partner was put behind bars for his part in a "boutique cannabis operation". Edward Rainford, 32, and co-defendant Jay Boyd, 28, appeared at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing after they both pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cannabis between November 2022 and September 2023. Healey, 36, who has also appeared in Waterloo Road and Dancing on Ice, has been in a relationship with Rainford for four years. The couple also have a child together. The court was told how Rainford and Boyd's actions were uncovered during an operation by Greater Manchester Police to tackle the supply of Class B drugs, Manchester Evening News reports. Gwen Henshaw, prosecuting, told how, on July 7, 2023, the pair were observed in a branch of Costa Coffee in Monton, Salford. A police officer overheard them discussing "taking 33 per cent", "the next sum", "a 4.5", "it's a risk" and "doing it off their own back". A warrant was then executed to search a property on Grasmere Road, Swinton. Boyd's fingerprints were found along with a small quantity of cannabis, a "list of debtors" and small bags, "the kind used for 3.5 deals of cannabis". Boyd was also seen driving past the address during the search, and his phone number was also disconnected from the network a short time after. On September 4 the same year, Boyd was seen driving in Monton, alongside Rainford. They were pulled over by police and arrested on suspicion of separate offences. Both were taken to Wigan police station while their cars were searched and mobile phones examined. A search of Boyd's address on Cheetham Road found a sum of cash, a vacuum sealer and a small amount of cannabis worth between £145 and £205. The court was told, however, that it was the data from their mobiles which revealed that they were not just using the drug, but "playing roles" in "their own boutique operation". The phone evidence included images of bundles of money, with metadata from one matching the address of Rainford's family home. Chat logs showed the pair talking about money and different flavours including Oreo Cookie, Orange Cream and Wedding Cake. They exchanged contacts, and sent videos to each other showing "different strains of cannabis" with "close-ups of the product" to show off its "quality and structure". On August 13, Rainford sent Boyd a voice note saying: "I think I've got a quick one for us if you're interested". Another exchange showed one requesting a video of the "Gorilla Glue" strain to "forward on". The court was also told of a conversation during which Rainford appeared to refer to a debt he owed. According to the prosecution, the sum of these findings was evidence of the duo "working together in order to sell cannabis". Ms Henshaw said: 'They make contact with customers arranging supply of different strains. Messages suggest that they are keeping some strains in stock. 'The fact that they are arranging meeting places shows they are aware of the seriousness of what they are doing.' She added the pair had a "leading role" in "organised buying and selling of cannabis on a commercial scale", with "substantial links in a chain". She said: 'This was not a massive enterprise, but there were numbers of other people involved. There are people buying from the defendants and selling on for distribution.' Mark Friend, mitigating for Rainford said the actions had "financial advantage in mind' but told the court it 'lacked many of the hallmarks of sophisticated, professional drug dealing". He added: "There were no encrypted telephones – the messages and exchanges were not difficult to access. Messages referring to Rainford's debts show him as a cog in an over-all supply chain. There were clearly people far above him, doing far more. 'I am not seeking to undermine the seriousness of the offending – his decision making was flawed in the extreme and he must be punished. But the reference to organised crime is rather a grand title. I submit that he played a significant role only.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The court was told Rainford had served in the Army for nine years. Mr Friend added: "He gave good service to this country." Judge Peter Horgan responded: 'I think that defence was used on a previous occasion. There is only so much you can draw from the same well.' Rainford has previous convictions for criminal damage, assault and violence, the latter of which he was imprisoned for in July 2019. Upon his release in 2022 he was said to have been "anxious to build himself a life". Mr Friend said: 'He is not scared of hard work and earning a living. There is a good prospect of him moving into paid employment after release. He has entered a relationship that is still ongoing, in which he has a child and step-daughter. "He is supported by family and friends today who I think would say that there is another side to him as a responsible, decent man who can live a life away from offending.' He was still on licence at the time of his arrest in 2023, and initially pleaded not guilty to the drugs charge in December last year, before admitting to the offence in January. Representing Boyd, Tanya Elahi said the offending"lacked sophistication", adding: "They did not use a business as a cover or abuse a position of responsibility". She told the court he was now a trained air conditioning engineer, self-employed since November 2024 due to his release on unconditional bail after he was arrested and pleaded guilty. She added: 'He accepts the severity of the offending and is remorseful for his actions. He himself calls them a stupid mistake and is glad to have turned his cheek. 'He was unemployed then and struggling financially. He is living at his mother's home and signed up for universal credit. He has not been in trouble since this offence. This was one lapse in judgement.' 'A lapse in judgement does not occur over a period of many months,' the judge interrupted. 'That is the difficulty.' Judge Horgan said he "entirely agreed" the duo's activities amounted to "a boutique operation". He told them both: 'It was a serious operation, in which you had a contact above and below you. This ensured that you were able to buy and sell significant amounts of cannabis to make money, which is what this was all about.' "You were working together, buying and selling large quantities and arranging a supply of a variety, suggesting you kept strains in stock. The images recovered suggest a lucrative operation. But I accept that this was not sophisticated organised crime." Addressing Rainford, the judge agreed he had an 'impressive' military career before ending up in prison. He added: 'You were released in July 2022 and, for reasons which are beyond me, you then became involved in this. "You let your family down and left your partner to raise two young children. You plan to move in with her and continue with the business that you set up with your father. I recognise your difficulties with your mental health and those that you have as a result of your service to this country. 'You had a management role in this operation. You did involve others and you did expect to make financial gain, and were aware of the scale. This was not a lapse in judgement - the scale of time is important to me. It took place over many months.' Rainford, of no fixed address, was sentenced to two years behind bars. Speaking to Boyd, the judge said: 'You were unemployed at the time of the offence and involved yourself in criminality actively, for the first time in your life, purely for financial gain. 'I have about this but find the only appropriate method of punishment can be immediate custody. I don't believe I would be acting in accordance with my public duty otherwise.' Boyd received a sentence of one year and six months.
Sunday World
20-06-2025
- Sunday World
Drug dealer dubbed Albus Dumbledore jailed over cannabis haul
The judge commended him for writing a 'candid' letter to the court A drug dealer who nicknamed himself 'Albus Dumbledore' has been jailed after he was caught on camera picking up a shopping bag full of cannabis. Jacob Flavin (29) used the name of the famous Harry Potter character on the encrypted communication app, Signal. He was described in court as a 'significant figure' in a five-man gang of drug dealers who sold wholesale amounts of cannabis on Signal, Manchester Evening News reports. Jacob Flavin News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Manchester Crown Court heard how Flavin advertised 500 grams of 'super skunk' for £1,000 on November 3, 2023. He also included a photograph of the product being held in a latex-gloved hand. When his potential buyer said 'leave it with me', the 29-year-old replied, 'Can do nothing but make money. Soon as these main ones land, I will send a list.' Flavin also advertised other kinds of cannabis, including 'Tropical', 'Gelato' and 'Banana' with prices ranging from £2,800 to £3,100 per kilo. He was ultimately caught when undercover police photographed him collecting an Aldi shopping bag that he believed was full of cannabis. Cops were monitoring the gang as part of 'Operation Global'. During his arrest at his deluxe apartment in Salford, Manchester, police seized a Rolex worth between £6,000 and £8,000 as well as small bags of cannabis. Detectives also found menus, price lists and two mobile phones. They also found a ledger with details of debtors and how much they owed. Examination of his mobile phone found he was also involved in the sale of cocaine, heroin and ketamine with other 'unknown conspirators'. It's estimated that the gang were involved in the supply of approximately 180kg of cannabis in a period of seven weeks. Neil Fryman, for the prosecution, told the court that Flavin could be linked to the sale of 3.5kg of cocaine, 2.5kg of heroin and 5kg of ketamine. The court heard that he had six previous convictions for 10 offences, including possession of cannabis with intent to supply, for which he spent nine months behind bars. At sentencing, Judge Sarah Johnson said the damage done to communities by drugs was 'far reaching', adding: "So much of the suffering we see in these courts has its roots in this trade and those who seek to profit from it." She told the court that Flavin had written a 'commendably candid' letter detailing his "first-hand experience of the dreadful consequences of this evil trade". "It appears to be to your eternal shame that you sought to profit from other's misery,' she said. Flavin was handed down nine years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of conspiracy to supply cannabis, cocaine, heroin and ketamine.
