'Rot in hell!': Court erupts as man sentenced to life in prison for murdering ex's partner
John Belfield, 31, was sentenced to a minimum term of 37 years on Thursday 4 July, after he was convicted of murdering Thomas Campbell on 3 July 2022.
After sentencing, as he was led to the cells, cries of "rot in hell" could be heard.
Manchester Crown Court heard how Belfield recruited a team to help him kill Thomas Campbell in Tameside after he began a relationship with Demi-Lee Driver, his killer's ex-partner.
Belfield was one of three men who lay in wait as Campbell arrived home late on a Saturday night on July 2, 2022.
The court heard the killing followed a week of hostile surveillance carried out on 38-year-old Mr Campbell by Belfield and his conspirators.
When they struck, Campbell could be heard to scream as the trio attacked and subdued him on his front drive, before bundling him inside the house on Riverside in Mossley, Tameside.
Over two hours he was stabbed, strangled and had hot liquid poured on his genitals. Prosecutors said he was "tortured to death", having suffered 61 separate injuries.
A huge murder investigation was launched, and Belfield's conviction is the fourth related to Thomas Campbell's death.
The 31-year-old initially escaped justice by fleeing to Suriname, a small South American nation north of Brazil. He was eventually arrested by local police on drug charges, and served some time in prison before Suriname and Dutch authorities brought him back to Manchester to face justice for the murder of Mr Campbell.
During that time three others were convicted in connection with Mr Campbell's murder, including his ex-wife.
Coleen Campbell had fed her former spouse's killers vital information about his whereabouts.
The pair, who had two children together, had been together for 10 years, but divorced in 2019 following a messy break-up.
Coleen Campbell was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial in 2023, for her role in the horrendous plot.
Reece Steven, who Belfield recruited into the crime, and was one of the three attackers to kill Thomas Campbell, was also found guilty of murder.
Stephen Cleworth, who Belfield also recruited, planted the tracking device on Campbell's car, was convicted of manslaughter.
He was not present at the scene as he was on a 'bender' at a swinger's club. The trio were all also convicted of conspiring to rob Thomas Campbell.
The third attacker who formed part of the group who attacked Campbell remains unknown and is wanted by police.
At his trial, Belfield claimed he had agreed with Steven and Cleworth to try and steal drugs from Campbell, which they believed he hid in fields across Tameside and east Manchester.
He said Coleen Campbell suggested locations where the drugs would be buried. Belfield maintained that he did not want 'trouble' with Campbell and that he was not jealous of the relationship with his ex.
But after a month long trial, Belfield was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob.
At his sentencing hearing, Mr Campbell's father, Terry Campbell paid tribute to him. He said: 'I'm not going to waste words defending Thomas' lifestyle, that's for others to judge. I want to speak about my son Thomas, who has been referred to as the victim and the deceased throughout the trial, as a human being.
'I want to tell you about the true person that Thomas was. A son, a loving father and a good friend.
'Growing up Thomas was a cheeky chap, and he was known for his politeness and his good heart. It's hard to find a photograph of Thomas where he isn't smiling, and he brought light into every room.
'Thomas is the father of two children who he doted on. As I look at my grandchildren, although it is a beautiful time when we're together, there is a thought in the back of my mind about the reality for them when they have to face this pain themselves, and learn of the reality of what happened to their dad who they adore.
'Its been so hard to endure the mockery of Thomas between those responsible for him no longer being here. The only context where soft boy would come into play is in the way he treated his family and friends.
"On the topic of friends, none of the people concerned in this trial were friends of Thomas. I have heard time and time again the phrase 'I know him really well'. I can say with confidence that that simply isn't true.'
Jailing him for life to serve a minimum term of 34 years and 261 days in prison, Mr Justice Graham said to Belfield: 'You wanted Thomas Campbell to suffer. I have no doubt you took pleasure in his pain.'
As he was led to the cells below, Belfield looked to the public gallery where Mr Campbell's family were sitting. They then began to cackle, shout and scream "rot in hell", "rat" and "you f***ing freak".
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