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FIRE ATTACK

Gangster’s moll targeted in arson attack with fire ripping through home after she plotted torture-murder of ex-husband

POLICE are investigating an alleged arson attack at the home of a gangster's moll caged for conspiring with her ex-husband's killer.

Firefighters were scrambled to Coleen Campbell's former marital home in Manchester on Thursday just hours after she was sentenced.

Police are investigating an alleged arson attack at Coleen Campbell's former home
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Police are investigating an alleged arson attack at Coleen Campbell's former homeCredit: Cavendish
The mum was jailed for conspiring with one of ex-husband Thomas Campbell's killers
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The mum was jailed for conspiring with one of ex-husband Thomas Campbell's killersCredit: Cavendish

It is understood the property is currently empty with the blaze now extinguished, reports.

Police have launched a probe into the fire but no arrests have been made.

A GMP spokesperson said: "Police were called just before 12.30am yesterday (Thursday 23 February 2023) to a report of a fire at a property on Bamford Street, Clayton, Manchester. Emergency services attended and the fire was safely extinguished. No one sustained any injuries.

"Enquiries are ongoing and officers are currently treating the fire as arson. No arrests have currently been made."

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Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed three fire engines attended the scene.

The blaze was put out around an hour and 20 minutes after they were scrambled.

Campbell, 38, was jailed for 13 years after she shared intelligence of Thomas Campbell's whereabouts to the "mastermind" of his killing, John Belfield.

The mum-of-four was captured on CCTV in her pink pyjamas chatting to Belfield for 25 minutes in her garden just hours before the savage attack.

She and Belfield had met up and also exchanged 35 phonecalls and 68 messages as she conspired to have her ex-husband robbed.

During this time, Campbell divulged key information about Thomas - including details of his van's registration plate and his house number.

Further footage released by police shows a tracking device being placed on Thomas' car as he dropped his daughter off at school.

Belfield, Reece Steven, 29, and Stephen Cleworth, 38, used this to conduct reconnaissance missions to the dad's home.

On July 2 last year, three men burst out of a Vauxhall Combo van parked on the drive of an unoccupied house.

They were seen shoving Thomas into his home while he desperately screamed.

He was then dragged inside and tortured to death in a two-hour "extraordinary act of barbarism".

Blood splattered the walls of his smart new-build home as he was bound and brutalised.

Thomas was stabbed, punched and stamped on before boiling water was poured on his buttocks.

He had been dragged around the house as the attackers took as much money or drugs as they could get their hands on.

Thomas was then left to die in the hallway before being discovered the following day by a neighbour.

The dad, who was the ex-partner of Belfield's new girlfriend, suffered 61 separate injuries during the brutal attack.

Bizarrely, Campbell was caught after a meeting with a clairvoyant four days after the brutal killing.

She told Thomas' mum Lynn he had visited her beyond the grave to reveal details of his death.

Suspicious the information had not yet been released to the public, Lynn went to police to report her former daughter-in-law.

Prosecutors accepted Campbell probably did not want Thomas to die but said her alliance with Belfield ultimately led to Thomas' death.

She was yesterday jailed for 13 years after being convicted of manslaughter but cleared of murder.

Steven was caged for at least 37 years for murder while Cleworth was handed a minimum term of 12 years for manslaughter.

Cleworth was due to be at Thomas' home that night but did not show up as he had been on a "bender".

He still played a key role in the preparation of the "carefully planned, practised, ruthless, armed assault".

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Belfield is believed to be on the run in Spain.

Campbell had divulged her ex-husband's house number
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Campbell had divulged her ex-husband's house numberCredit: Steve Allen
She was jailed for 13 years this week
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She was jailed for 13 years this weekCredit: Cavendish
She was seen talking to a 'mastermind' who plotted her ex's killing
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She was seen talking to a 'mastermind' who plotted her ex's killing
Thomas suffered 61 different injuries
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Thomas suffered 61 different injuriesCredit: Cavendish
Campbell had exchanged 35 phone calls and 68 messages with Belfield
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Campbell had exchanged 35 phone calls and 68 messages with BelfieldCredit: MEN Media
She was convicted of manslaughter
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She was convicted of manslaughterCredit: Cavendish

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