21 February 2023 , 11:39
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A gangster's moll who helped arrange the "barbaric killing" of her ex-husband was facing life in jail today after he apparently came back from beyond the grave during a seance to implicate her in his murder.
Former Matalan store assistant Colleen Campbell, 38, had visited a psychic days after former spouse of 10 years Thomas Campbell was tortured to death by a gang following a feud about his new girlfriend.
At the time of the seance, little information had previously been made public by police about the fatal assault - but Campbell fell under suspicion as only the killers could have known the details about Thomas' fatal wounds.
Inquiries revealed the mother of four had been tipping off the killers about her ex-husband's movements in the run up to the killing.
Thomas, 36, who led a lavish lifestyle through drug dealing and laundering dirty money 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.
Thomas and Colleen Campbell leaving court during an earlier case (STEVE ALLEN)At Bolton Crown Court, Campbell, of Clayton was found guilty of manslaughter, following a five week trial.
She was cleared of murder. Two other men were also convicted over the killing whilst a third remains on run.
Campbell and her husband initially became notorious over a string extravagant trips abroad to a family-run cocaine trafficking racket. She worked part time for the budget department store chain and relied on tax credits yet they went on exotic trips abroad.
The couple, who married in 2011, were eventually detained in a police operation in 2018 which culminated in them admitting concealing criminal property.
Campbell was given a suspended sentence but her husband served two years jail and after his release from jail the couple split up acrimoniously in 2011 when he started an affair with another woman.
Initially the gangster's wife sent messages to friends saying: "Best thing this man did was sh*g my baggy mate 12 months ago. Roll on new beginnings."
Colleen Campbell called and texted Bellfield in the days before the killing (Facebook)But others read: "Never let the actions of a man that cannot be loyal to his own family and a woman with no morals and has to sleep with other women's husbands, change and provoke you. Karma is best served cold - and then tables turn real fast. I be the coldest MF you ever met."
She later got caught up in the sinister plot after the unnamed mistress' ex-boyfriend John Bellfield, 28, also learnt of the romance and decided to rob Thomas of cash, drugs and valuables in a revenge raid on his home.
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."
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Later Bellfield met up with Campbell after messaging her on Instagram and despite previously being strangers they subsequently shared 35 phone calls and 68 messages.
She shared key information about her ex, including details of his van's registration plate, his house number and his movements and a tracking device was placed on the vehicle whilst Thomas was picking his daughter up from school.
Thomas had 61 separate injuries (MEN Media)On July 2 2022, Thomas was ambushed and attacked by two or three men as he unlocked his front door. After being subdued he was dragged around his home and viciously attacked for two hours.
The court heard Campbell went to see the clairvoyant four days later.
Thomas' mother Lynn Campbell 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.
Colleen Campbell and Thomas Campbell on holiday (Facebook)"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."
Previous hearings were told Campbell and her husband used £100,000 in drugs money to take trips to Cancun in Mexico, Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt, Gran Canaria, Majorca and Bulgaria.
Holiday snaps showed the pair enjoying a yacht trip, frolicking at a swim-up bar and reclining on a giant Rattan bed whilst Campbell was seen cuddling a Marmoset monkey.
Lucy Scully, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North West's Complex Casework Unit 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."