Gangster's ex-wife helped arrange 'barbaric' killing of her 'hated' former husband in feud over his new girlfriend | The Sun

A GANGSTER'S ex-wife helped arrange the "barbaric" killing of her former husband after a feud over his new girlfriend.

Colleen Campbell, 38, is due to be sentenced today after she was found guilty of manslaughter.

The mum-of-four played a role in the torture and murder of her ex-husband Thomas, 36.

The former Matalan store assistant was with Thomas, who was involved in drug dealing and money laundering, for 10 years.

Inquiries revealed she had been tipping off the killers on Thomas' whereabouts in the run-up to the fatal attack on July 2 last year.

He suffered 61 separate injuries during an ambush at his £350,000 townhouse in Mossley, Greater Manchester.

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He was stabbed, punched and stamped on before boiling water was poured on his buttocks.

Neighbours found his body in the hallway naked except for his socks.

Reece Steven, 29, was convicted of murder whilst Stephen Cleworth, 38, was found guilty of manslaughter.

A third man named John Bellfield, 28, is believed to be on the run in Spain.

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Bellfield, who was the mistress' ex-boyfriend, said the pair were "doomed" after he found out about their relationship.

In texts to his ex, Bellfield said: ''You and that helmet will get domed.

"You will never have a boyfriend. You will have to move country.

"Give it a week and you will see why and what happens when you take the pi**.

"Why would I respect you getting sha**** off Tom Campbell.''

Later Bellfield met up with Campbell after messaging her on Instagram.

The pair exchanged 35 phone calls and 68 messages.

Campbell shared key information about her ex, including details of his van's registration plate and his house number.

A tracking device was also placed on the vehicle whilst Thomas was picking his daughter up from school.

He was then dragged around his home and viciously attacked for two hours.

The court heard Campbell went to see a clairvoyant four days after the brutal killing.

Claiming Thomas came forward and gave her details of his death, Campbell went to relay the information to his mum Lynn.

However, Lynn grew suspicious and went to the police as little information had been made public at the time.

Lynn said in a statement: "Colleen told me she had visited a psychic in Wythenshawe.

''She told me that Thomas had come through during her visit to the psychic and asked her to come to my house.

"She said he had told her these lads had hurt him and done something to his face. It was over a girl or girls.

"While she was saying these words Colleen gestured with her hand across her cheek.

"I told her I don't want to know and told the police about what she said about Thomas' injuries.

"She said there were only two people involved in the incident and not three, and they were still in the country.

"Colleen then told me Thomas had said he wasn't bothered about dying young as he had lived a full life.

"I didn't see Colleen again following this and haven't seen her since."

TORTURED & KILLED

Prosecutor Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC said: "At this stage, the police had not revealed to the public the injuries to Thomas Campbell’s face.

"So this information could only have come to Coleen Campbell from one of those who were present and participating in the attack.

"The telephone evidence demonstrates that she spoke to John Belfield within hours of the attack ending.

"The prosecution’s case is that this is information that John Belfield gave her, probably before Thomas Campbell had been declared dead by paramedics."

Prosecutors today said police tracked the van used in the murder to the Peak Forest, Derbyshire, where they recovered several items from Thomas’ house.

They found his wallet and driving licence, along with the tracker phone and a burned flask.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Lucy Scully said: “Thomas must have been absolutely terrified during the vicious and relentless two-hour attack.

"It was pre-planned and sophisticated and each person played their part in causing Thomas’s death.''

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Campbell and Thomas married in 2011 before going on lavish holidays.

The pair used £100,000 worth of drugs money to take trips to Mexico, Cancun, Gran Canaria, Majorca and Bulgaria.

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