Tams, who passed away on October 18, was one of three teenagers found guilty of the murder of Gary Belfield at Newcastle Crown Court in December
19:41, 27 Oct 2025Updated 19:57, 27 Oct 2025
Jordan Tams, who has died at HMP Deerbolt in Barnard Castle, County Durham aged 18-years-old(Image: Northumbria Police)
Convicted murderer Jordan Tams has died after being locked up in Barnard Castle, County Durham, aged just 18-years-old. Tams was one of three teenagers found guilty of the murder of Gary Belfield at Newcastle Crown Court in December, and he passed away on October 18.
He was residing at young offender institution HMP Deerbolt at the time of his death, with the Prison Service confirming that, as is the case with all deaths while in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will now investigate the circumstances.
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 Gateshead man at a property on Elliott Drive. Gary Belfield, originally from Manchester, was found to have been stabbed 11 times, and died at the scene.
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 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.”
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