John Belfield jailed life murder love rival Manchester

John Belfield, a 31-year-old drug dealer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Thomas Campbell, who had begun a relationship with Belfield's ex-partner, Demi-Lee Driver. Belfield orchestrated the attack by recruiting accomplices, including Reece Steven and Stephen Cleworth, to lie in wait and torture Campbell over two hours at his home in Mossley, Tameside, inflicting 61 injuries including stabbing, strangulation, and pouring hot liquid on his genitals. The attack followed a week of hostile surveillance, including placing a tracking device on Campbell's car, and was facilitated by Campbell's ex-wife, Coleen Campbell, who provided vital information and was convicted of manslaughter. Belfield fled to Suriname after the murder but was arrested there and extradited back to the UK for trial. The court condemned Belfield's actions, noting he took pleasure in Campbell's suffering, and the public reacted with cries of condemnation during sentencing. Other conspirators received life sentences with varying minimum terms, and one attacker remains at large.