A drug dealer who tortured and murdered a love rival has been given a life sentence.
John Belfield, 31, was one of a four-strong gang that killed Thomas Campbell in Tameside after 38-year-old Mr Campbell started a relationship with Belfield’s former partner, Demi Lee-Driver.
Jailing Belfield for 34 years and 261 days at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Graham, told him he had had “no doubt you took pleasure in his pain”.
There were cries of “rot in hell” from the public gallery as Belfield, 29, was sentenced.
The court heard Belfield, who fled the country after the murder, was one of a group of men who had lain in wait for Mr Campbell when he arrived home late on 2 July, 2022.
When they attacked, Mr Campbell could be heard to scream. He was then bundled into his house in Riverside Drive in Mossley, Tameside.
For the next two hours he was stabbed, strangled and had hot liquid poured on his genitals.
Prosecutors said he was “tortured to death” and suffered 61 separate injuries.
Two other men who took part in the murder have already been jailed, but a forth remains at large.
Belfield fled to Suriname, a former Dutch colony north of Brazil, before he was arrested there in March 2023.
He was then flown back to Manchester a year later.
Judge Graham said Belfield had “wanted Thomas Campbell to suffer”.
Mr Campbell’s father, Terry Campbell’s victim impact statement was read out in court. He said “there are no words to describe the loss of Thomas”.
“We all live with a broken heart. No parent should outlive their child,” he added.
Last year, Reece Steven, 29, of Poplar Street, Middleton, was found guilty of murder with conspiracy to rob and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 37 years.
Steven Cleworth, 38, of Charles Street, Heywood, was found guilty of manslaughter with conspiracy to rob and was jailed for life with a minimum of 12 years.
Coleen Campbell, 38, of Bamford Street, Manchester, was found guilty of manslaughter with conspiracy to rob and sentenced to 13 years, with a minimum of two-thirds to be served in prison.
