THE girlfriend of a man tortured to death sent naked videos to his alleged killer, a court heard.
Thomas Campbell, 38, was ambushed on his doorstep in an attack allegedly orchestrated by his partner Demi-Lee Driver’s ex-boyfriend John Belfield.
MEN MediaJohn Belfield denies murder and conspiracy to rob[/caption]
GMPThomas Campbell had also been a dealer and Belfield admitted planning to steal his drugs[/caption]
EnterpriseThe victim’s glam ex Coleen was previously convicted for manslaughter after his death[/caption]
His body was discovered by his neighbours lying on his back with his ankles “bound together tightly” with duct tape the morning after three men “pounced” on him, the court was told.
The alleged “mastermind” of the plot is John Belfield, 31, who is on trial and denies murder.
The victim’s glam ex Coleen Campbell was previously convicted for manslaughter after his death, and she was jailed for 13 years in 2023.
The mum-of-four passed on information about her ex husband’s movements – including details she learned from her children.
Thomas was currently dating Belfield’s ex-girlfriend Demi-Lee and the victim was “hostile” about the relationship, Manchester Crown Court was told.
Drug dealer Belfield, 31, claimed in court that Demi-Lee had sent him a raunchy video of herself dancing naked and asking for sex.
Belfield said he responded by sending a screenshot of Demi-Lee’s clip to Campbell – but insisted he “did not want any trouble”.
The jury heard Belfield give evidence in his defence and he admitted to dealing drugs but denied killing Campbell.
He denied having any intention to rob Campbell, or use violence against him.
The self-confessed drug dealer told the court he was at his sister’s house the night of the killing.
Belfield maintained his only plan was to steal drugs from Campbell, believing that he stored them in fields or open areas.
Belfield said he informed fellow drug dealer Campbell about the video sent by Driver because he wanted to be “transparent” with him.
He said: “It was not a good idea for me to get into conflict with Tom Campbell,’ he added.
“Tom’s a lot bigger and stronger than me.”
Belfield said he “definitely” did not want to rekindle his relationship with Driver, adding that the feeling was “mutual”.
He added: “I just wanted to tell Tom.
“I did not want any trouble with him. I just wanted to be transparent before anything came out about his ex-wife.”
MEN MediaThomas Campbell was killed on July 3, 2022[/caption]
CavendishImages of the crime scene in Greater Manchester[/caption]
CavendishMum-of-four Coleen had passed on information about her ex husband’s movements[/caption]
Questioned by his barrister Richard Wright KC, Belfield said he had known Campbell for about ten years, saying he was “higher up than me” in the drugs trade.
Belfield – who admitted living a “criminal lifestyle” – denied knowledge of and planting a tracking device on Thomas’ van five days before the killing.
However, he told the court he did surveil the house.
Belfield also denied bringing any torture items to the scene – which had been bought from a B&Q four days before the killing.
Belfield was extradited back from Suriname in South America after the killing and is now on trial for murder.
Coleen is one of three people to have been previously convicted in connection with her ex-husband’s death following a trial in 2023.
Belfield’s driver Stephen Cleworth, 38, was also convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob and was jailed for 12 years.
The identity of the third attacker remains a mystery.
‘SAVAGE ATTACK’
Prosecutor Dr Philip Lumb told Manchester Crown Court last week that Thomas was discovered in the hallway of his home, lying on his back after the savage attack.
“He was naked apart from a pair of socks,” he told the court.
Dr Lumb told the court Thomas’ ankles were “bound together tightly” with duct tape.
Injuries to the head and neck suggested a “sustained blunt sharp force physical assault”.
Dr Lumb concluded that Thomas’s cause of death included “multiple sharp force injures, blunt force head injuries” and “pressure to the neck”.
Jurors were told last week of jokey messages sent to Belfield by his alleged “right-hand man” Reece Steven.
Steven, 29, was previously found guilty of Thomas’s murder with conspiracy to rob and he was sentenced to life in prison.
In a conversation about Thomas’ horror injuries, Steven wrote: “Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere.”
Belfield, of no fixed address, denies murder and conspiracy to rob.
The trial continues.
GMPColleen was jailed for 13 years in 2023[/caption]
GMPReece Steven, 29, and Belfield’s driver Stephen Cleworth were both jailed for their role in Thomas’s death[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
