Tams was one of three teenagers found guilty of the murder of Manchester dad Gary BelfieldOwen Younger and James Holt Senior Live and Breaking News Reporter
21:30, 27 Oct 2025Updated 21:41, 27 Oct 2025
Jordan Tams, who has died at HMP Deerbolt in Barnard Castle, County Durham aged 18-years-old(Image: Northumbria Police)
A prisoner who murdered a dad-of-six from Manchester has died in a young offenders institution aged 18.
Jordan Tams died on October 18 after being locked up in Barnard Castle, County Durham. He was one of three teenagers found guilty of the murder of Gary Belfield at Newcastle Crown Court.
He was residing at young offender institution HMP Deerbolt at the time of his death, with the Prison Service confirming that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will now investigate the circumstances.
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Jordan Tams, of Wesley Court, Felling, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years, for his part in the killing of the 40-year-old dad, originally from Manchester, who was found to have been stabbed 11 times, ChronicleLive reports.
A second man, in his 20s, was also seriously injured in the incident, but he made a full recovery. Tams, 17 at the time, along with Leandro Lopes, 18, and Kriesha Stroud, 15, were named in January this year after reporting restrictions were lifted during their sentencing.
Leandro Lopes, Jordan Tams and Kriesha Stroud(Image: Northumbria Police)
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Deerbolt prisoner Jordan Tams died on 18 October 2025. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
Following Gary’s death, his family described their devastation at the loss of the father-of-six who they described as a ‘caring, friendly person who was popular in his hometown’.
Gary Belfield(Image: Northumbria Police)
At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Deavin, of Northumbria Police, said: “This has been an incredibly tragic case and my thoughts remain with Gary’s family and loved ones during what has been a devastating time for them.
“They have been forced to endure and relive Gary’s final moments in a courtroom by his killers who have shown absolutely no remorse for this shocking and vile act. Thankfully, the weight of evidence against each offender was so overwhelming that the jury has found them guilty on all counts.
“No sentence will ever erase the heartbreak of Gary’s death, but I hope the knowledge of knowing his killers have been brought to justice will bring a degree of closure.
“Violence has absolutely no place in our communities, and as a Force we are committed to working with our partners to tackle such offending. The lives of everyone involved that evening have been forever changed by the decisions taken to carry weapons.
“However, each and every one of us has a role to play to help prevent further tragedies from ever happening, we must come together to help prevent violence and knife crime.”