Police have renewed their appeal for information as they continue to try and trace murder suspect John Belfield.
Detectives investigating the murder of Thomas Campbell have also released a new photo of the 28-year-old, dated December 2022.
It’s believed he was the ‘mastermind’ behind the brutal killing of Thomas, whose body was found by a neighbour at his home on Riverside in Mossley at around 10.40am on Saturday 3 July.
Last week, three people – including Thomas’s ex-wife – were sentenced to a total of 62 years for their involvement in his death.
The conspiracy to murder was ‘meticulously thought out’ and planned around his daily routine, GMP found during the investigation.
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Thomas Campbell. Credit: GMPThomas Campbell. Credit: GMPThomas Campbell was brutally murdered in his own home.
On the night of the attack on 2 July, Thomas was ambushed when he opened his front door, then was overpowered and assaulted before being tortured and murdered inside his own home.
An autopsy revealed he had suffered more than 61 injuries.
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Despite the sentencing of Reece Steven, 29, Stephen Cleworth, 38, and Coleen Campbell, 38, detectives are still trying to track down John Belfield, who is believed to have left the country.
Detective Inspector Mark Davis, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “We have been working tirelessly ever since Saturday 3 July 2022 to find those we suspect are responsible.
“Three people were yesterday (Wednesday 23 February 2023) sentenced to a total of 62 years for their involvement in Thomas Campbell’s death.
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“Since July, we have followed a number of lines of enquiry and through an extensive investigation continue to appeal to the public for any information about Belfield’s whereabouts.
“We know he has links to Greater Manchester and Lancashire, but we now believe that he has left the UK and could possibly be in Spain or Tenerife.
“Thomas suffered significant injuries over a period of time, and I must stress that we do not want members of the public to approach Belfield. If you become aware of his whereabouts, please do nothing more than dial 999, quoting Operation Ravensburg. He is thought to be a dangerous individual who must not be approached.
John Belfield photographed in December 2022. Credit: GMP
“It is also worth reminding members of the public and Belfield’s associates, in particular, that assisting an offender is a criminal offence any anyone convicted of this faces up to 10 years imprisonment.
“Thomas owned at least two high-value Rolex watches that have been missing from his home address ever since his death, and we ask if anyone has any information about these to let us know as they may prove to be a crucial line of enquiry.
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“Our team continue to investigate this serious and complex investigation and are following many lines of enquiry to identify all of those responsible in playing a part in his death.”
Anyone with information should contact officers, on 0161 856 6377, or using GMP’s LiveChat facility on www.gmp.police.uk or alternatively Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured image: GMP
News
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.
Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.
The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.
Some city centre roads will be closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July for Manchester Day.
These will include:
🛣️Deansgate 🛣️St Ann Street 🛣️St Mary’s Gate 🛣️Market Street 🛣️King Street
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 21, 2024
But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.
The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures
Saturday 27 July
From 6am to 11:59pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park and Number One Deansgate.
St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.
The parking suspensions set to be in place are:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street)
St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate)
Todd Street (Corporation Street to Station Approach)
King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate)
South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)
St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street)
Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete
Emily Sergeant
Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.
In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.
The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.
Rochdale line update
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back into its original position… pic.twitter.com/byERjitdi1
Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.
On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.
TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM
Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.
“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.
“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”