Convicted murderer Jordan Tams, aged 18, has passed away while being held at HMP Deerbolt, a young offender institution located in Barnard Castle, County Durham.
The Prison Service confirmed his death on October 18 and stated that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate the circumstances, following the standard protocol for all deaths in custody. Tams, who was 17 at the time, was part of a trio of teenagers found guilty of the fatal stabbing of Gary Belfield, described as a “senseless” act, at Newcastle Crown Court in December.
Gary Belfield, a 40-year-old father of six originally from Manchester, was brutally stabbed 11 times at a residence on Elliott Drive in Gateshead on April 27 the previous year, resulting in his death at the scene.
Tams, residing at Wesley Court in Felling, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years for his involvement in the murder, as reported by Chronicle Live. Another man in his twenties was also severely injured during the incident but made a full recovery. Tams, along with his accomplices Leandro Lopes, 18, and Kriesha Stroud, 15, were publicly identified in January after reporting restrictions were lifted following their sentencing.
A spokesperson from the Prison Service stated, “HMP Deerbolt inmate Jordan Tams passed away on October 18, 2025. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation, as is standard procedure for all deaths in custody.”
At the time of the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Deavin from Northumbria Police expressed condolences, calling it a tragic case. He emphasized the lack of remorse shown by the perpetrators during the trial and highlighted the community’s commitment to combatting violence and knife crime to prevent similar tragedies in the future.