Coleen Campbell hauled from cell over hammer assault after ex-husband ‘torture’ plot
Coleen Campbell is currently serving a 13 year sentence for manslaughter in connection with the death of her ex-husband Thomas Campbell, but has been back in court for a hammer attack
Coleen Campbell has been dragged back to court after being filmed wielding a hammer in a shocking street assault sparked by a love rivalry.
The victim was ambushed on the streets of Ashton-under-Lyne by an armed group. Campbell, 41, along with Hannah Derbyshire, 27, Chloe Bamford, 30, and Simon Bowden, 38, were all implicated in the attack.
Minshull Street Crown Court was informed that the incident was triggered by a dispute over a love triangle. Both Derbyshire and the victim, Niamh Wasik, were reportedly involved with the same man, James Heaney.
Campbell is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence for the murder of her ex-husband Thomas Campbell.
Thomas was brutally killed in his own home after three men attacked him as he opened his front door in Mossley, Tameside, around 11pm on July 2, 2022.
Mr Campbell, 38, was robbed and “tortured to death” in his own home after being ambushed by three men, police said.
His ex-wife was convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob in 2023. She had given the killers information about his location and helped plan the crime.
Two other men were also found guilty in relation to their involvement in the robbery plot and the murder, one for murder and another for manslaughter. A third man accused of murder is due to stand trial in the upcoming months.
Today, Coleen Campbell was informed that her involvement in a street assault, which occurred just days prior to Mr Campbell’s murder, would not extend her anticipated release date in May 2031.
The shocking attack was captured on CCTV.
Sporting black hair and dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers, Campbell appeared in court today (April 14) via video link from category C prison HMP Drake Hall in Staffordshire.
Prosecutor Danielle Gilmour detailed how Campbell was behind the wheel of a VW Tiguan with three other defendants on June 29, 2022. She drove to the intersection of Rutland Street and Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the victim Ms Wasik was walking.
All four people in the car then jumped out and began their assault.
Derbyshire was the first to emerge and started “raining down blows and kicks” on Ms Wasik. Bowden, wielding a “two-foot-long drill bit”, pulled a balaclava over his face.
Dressed entirely in black, Campbell was armed with a hammer. She can be seen striking Ms Wasik “multiple times”.
Ms Wasik was then knocked to the ground, as the three female attackers encircled her and continued the assault.
Roughly 90 seconds after their arrival, the four assailants jumped back in the car and fled the scene. Campbell swiped Ms Wasik’s handbag, which was later discovered in her residence during a police search.
All four accused later admitted to violent disorder, with Campbell also confessing to theft.
Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey said: “On June 29, 2022, the four of you went in a car, clearly a planned adventure, to a place, Granville Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, where the victim in this case, Ms Wasik, was assaulted.
“The motive behind this appears to be the relationship that there was between you, Hannah Derbyshire, and somebody called James Heaney.
“Ms Wasik was involved in a relationship with him also. The four of you went in the car, three of you armed, Ms Campbell with a hammer, you Hannah Derbyshire didn’t arm yourself, and you Ms Bamford with a rolling pin. Mr Bowden you had a two foot long drill bit in your possession.
“It must have been a very frightening and scary situation which arose, and no doubt put people who were watching what was going on in fear themselves.”
He told Campbell: “You armed yourself with a hammer, you in fact used the hammer on the victim in this case. I have read information which suggests you while you have been in custody have developed insight, that you have attended courses and are doing all you possibly can to reform yourself. That is to be commended.”
Campbell and Bowden, both of no fixed address, were sentenced to 18 months in prison each. Derbyshire, of Bristowe Street, Clayton, and Bamford, of John Beeley Avenue, Openshaw, were both handed suspended prison sentences.
Derbyshire was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. Bamford was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. The pair were both ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
