Justice Served: Thomas Campbell's Family Finds Closure as Treacherous Ex-Wife's Fate is Sealed

The family of Thomas Campbell has expressed profound relief following the news that his treacherous ex-wife, Coleen Campbell, will not be considered for early release from prison. Thomas Campbell was ambushed outside his home in Mossley, Tameside, bundled inside, tortured for two hours, and brutally murdered. A comprehensive police investigation subsequently uncovered that Coleen Campbell, the mother of Thomas’s children, had conspired with other criminals, providing crucial information regarding his movements.

Coleen Campbell was convicted of manslaughter for her involvement in the plot and was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2023. She was initially expected to serve two-thirds of her term, approximately eight-and-a-half years, with an anticipated release in 2031. However, a policy proposed by the previous Labour government had suggested that offenders convicted of serious crimes such as manslaughter, rape, and other sexual offences, who would typically serve two-thirds of their sentence, would instead serve only half. This change was advocated to avert a potential crisis within the criminal justice system due to prisons nearing full capacity.

Upon becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham pledged to re-evaluate this policy. He has since announced a reversal, confirming that offenders convicted of unlawful killing, encompassing all forms of manslaughter and death by dangerous driving, will now be explicitly excluded from early release consideration. Prime Minister Burnham stated that this crucial change, set to become law imminently, will result in “hundreds” of additional individuals remaining incarcerated.

The policy reversal has brought significant comfort to Thomas Campbell’s family. His father, Terry Campbell, conveyed to the Manchester Evening News that the policy shift was “great news,” highlighting the considerable “strain” the uncertainty had placed on the family. Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Burnham acknowledged the “anguish” endured by bereaved families. He explained that after initially excluding rape, grooming, and child sex offences, he “pushed the system to go further” in response to their voices, leading to the inclusion of death by dangerous driving and other manslaughter offences in the exclusion.

To accommodate the increased prison population resulting from this policy change, the Prime Minister outlined plans to create additional space by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing inmates serving indefinite sentences under Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP). IPP sentences were applied to offenders deemed a significant public risk between 2005 and 2012 but were later abolished, though not retrospectively for existing sentences. Mr. Burnham assured that Justice Secretary Alex Norris would be vigilant to prevent similar situations from arising again.

Beyond Coleen Campbell, three other men were prosecuted for their roles in the conspiracy. John Belfield, identified as the ringleader, and his associate Reece Steven were both found guilty of murder and conspiring to rob Thomas Campbell. They received life sentences, with a minimum term of 37 years. Stephen Cleworth, also involved in the build-up to the attack but not present on the day of July 2, 2023, was convicted of manslaughter and conspiring to rob, receiving a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years. The attack was driven by the perpetrators’ desire for money, jewellery, and valuables, described by a judge as a “robbery of a drug dealer by other drug dealers.” Evidence revealed that Coleen Campbell had communicated and met with Belfield prior to the assault, forming an alliance that culminated in the brutal murder, notably because Thomas Campbell was in a relationship with Belfield’s ex-partner at the time.