Jordan Tams, 18, died while serving a life sentence for his role in the 2024 murder of Gary Belfield, a Manchester dad-of-six
Convicted murderer Jordan Tams, 18, has died while being held at HMP Deerbolt, a young offender institution in Barnard Castle, County Durham.
He died on October 18, the Prison Service confirmed, adding that, as with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate the circumstances. Tams, 17 at the time, was one of three teenagers convicted of the “senseless” murder of Gary Belfield at Newcastle Crown Court in December.
Mr Belfield, 40, a dad-of six-originally from Manchester, was stabbed 11 times at a home on Elliott Drive in Gateshead on April 27 last year and died at the scene.
Tams, of Wesley Court, Felling, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years for his role in the murder, Chronicle Live reports.
A second man, in his 20s, was also seriously injured in the incident, but he made a full recovery. Tams, along with Leandro Lopes, 18, and Kriesha Stroud, 15, were named in January after reporting restrictions were lifted during their sentencing.
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.”
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.”
