'I only intended to steal Tom's drugs - not use violence'

Dealer tells jury how he asked alleged victim's ex-wife for details of stash

- BY ANDREW BARDSLEY

A DRUG dealer accused of murder told a jury how he asked his alleged victim’s ex-wife for details of where he stored drugs in order to steal them.

But John Belfield denied having any intention to rob Thomas Campbell, or use violence against him.

He maintained his only plan was to steal drugs from Mr Campbell, believing that he stored them in fields or open areas. Mr Belfield, 31, denies murder and conspiracy to rob.

Mr Campbell, 38, was found naked apart from a pair of socks, having been ‘tortured to death’ in his own home, prosecutors allege.

Three men had ‘pounced’ on him as he arrived home late on a Saturday night, on July 2, 2022, Manchester Crown Court has heard.

Mr Campbell's ex-wife Coleen Campbell is one of three people to have been previously convicted in connection with her ex-husband's death following a trial in 2023.

She gave details to Mr Belfield about her ex-husband’s movements, including passing on information from her children.

Stephen Cleworth, from Heywood, who had acted as a driver for Mr Belfield, was also convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

He was responsible for placing the tracker on Mr Campbell's vehicle and he was involved in carrying out ‘reconnaissance’ at his home. He was not present at the scene of the murder.

Reece Steven, from Middleton, described by prosecutors as being Mr Belfield’s ‘right hand man’, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob following the same trial in 2023.

Mr Belfield, who was arrested in South America in 2023 and returned to the UK a year later, gave evidence at his murder trial for a second day.

He told the jury how he started drug dealing aged 18 or 19 and that around the time of the alleged murder was making about £2,000 a week.