Fears ex-wife who plotted with husband’s killers may very well be freed early and again along with her children

The parents of a man tortured and murdered fear his ex-wife who conspired with the culprits could soon be released. Thomas Campbell was ambushed at his front door nearly four years ago. He was then tortured and murdered.

His treacherous ex-wife and mother of his two children, Coleen Campbell, had conspired with other criminals and passed on key information about his movements.

Their target was money, jewellery, any valuables they could get their hands on at his property in Mossley, Tameside, the Manchester Evening News reports. A judge described it as a ‘robbery of a drug dealer by other drug dealers’.

Coleen Campbell and three other men were prosecuted for their roles in the plot. She was not present at the time of the attack and was convicted of manslaughter.

John Belfield, the ringleader of the gang, and his associate Reece Steven were found guilty of murder. Stephen Cleworth, who was not there on the day of the attack but was involved in the build up, was convicted of manslaughter. All four were also convicted of conspiring to rob Thomas Campbell.

Belfield and Steven were handed life sentences, and both ordered to serve a minimum of 37 years. Cleworth was handed a life sentence, to serve at least 12 years. Evidence showed that Coleen had begun speaking with Belfield and met up with him prior to the attack. Thomas was seeing an ex of Belfield’s at the time of his death. Together, Coleen and Belfield formed an alliance which resulted in a brutal murder.

About three-and-a-half years into her 13 year sentence, Thomas Campbell’s family now fear she could soon be considered for early release. They said that Coleen has sent cards to the children she shares with Thomas, claiming that she will soon be allowed home leave.

The family also claims they have been told that Coleen may be assessed for early release as soon as September, as part of the Government’s early release scheme for prisoners. When she was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court in February 2023, Coleen was told that she would serve two-thirds of her term, about eight-and-a-half years, with an expected release in 2031.

But under Government proposals, offenders convicted of manslaughter, rape and other sexual offences, who would ordinarily be expected to serve two-thirds of their sentence, would instead serve half of their sentence behind bars. The Government argues the change is necessary to avoid a potential crisis for the criminal justice system, with prisons almost reaching full capacity.

Thomas’s parents, Terry and Lynn, spoke of their anger about it. Terry said: “We found this information out because a card has been sent from Coleen to the children, and in the card it says ‘I’m going to be getting home leave, I’m working all week’.”

Lynn added: “It makes a mockery of what the judge gives people.” Terry said the family were dismayed to receive such information through informal channels. Lynn said that following the receipt of the card, she was told that Coleen is being assessed as a candidate for a potential early release.

The Campbells do not feel as though the opinions of victims are being listened to. Terry said: “The way it’s just carte blanche, nobody’s taking in the personal facts, and the fact that she conspired to do it. There were other conspirators who have got long, long sentences, which they deserve. She deserved the sentence she got, even though it was not a lot.”

Lynn added: “She should have got the same as them, because without her it wouldn’t have happened.” Terry said that the family were supported through the court cases, but now says: “It has all fell away. We are just left here having to deal with the situation.”

They say they feel the only good that has come out of the situation is that the children are being brought up by the Campbell family. Speaking of the impact of losing his son, Terry said: “It’s excruciating. We had just settled down. You’ll never come to terms with it.

“But we had just settled into a lull, we knew it was coming. And then it just started again. Going through it once was enough. To go through it twice. I haven’t got the words to describe it really to be honest.”

Lynn added: “It doesn’t go away. It’s there every day from the minute you wake up.” Speaking of the early release proposals, Lynn added: “Where’s the thought for the victim’s families? There is none.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This government is fixing the prison crisis it inherited – building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals. Without this decisive action, prisons will run out of space entirely as early as November and we will be unable to lock up serious offenders at all.

“Public safety and supporting victims is our top priority. Offenders who a judge has deemed the most dangerous are automatically blocked from early release, and prisoners who behave badly while behind bars face being locked up for longer.

“We are also launching the biggest expansion of tagging in history, rolling out tough new restriction zones to block offender movements, banning offenders from driving, pubs and events such as football matches, while expanding the chemical castration pilot to 20 prisons – pulling every level possible to protect the public and cut crime.”