Teenage stabbing murderer dies in prison

Jordan Tams was 17 years old when he killed Gary Belfield

A teenager serving a life sentence for murdering a man has died in prison.

Jordan Tams, 18, died at HMP Deerbolt in Barnard Castle on 18 October, the Prison Service said.

He was one of three teenagers found guilty of murdering Gary Belfield, 40, in Gateshead by repeatedly stabbing him with a knife and screwdriver, and attempting to kill Mr Belfield's son.

The prisons and probation ombudsman said it was investigating Tams' death.

Tams was 17 years old when he and Leandro Lopes, 18, attacked Mr Belfield and his son at his home on Elliot Drive in Felling on the night of 27 April.

A third teenager Kriesha Beyonce Stroud, 15, orchestrated the attack to settle a "pre-existing dispute", the court previously heard.

• Teen trio jailed for murdering man in knife attack

Deerbolt is a prison and young offender institution in County Durham for men aged 18 and over.

In January, Tams was sentenced to 26 years in prison before he would be eligible for parole.

Prisons and probation ombudsman Adrian Usher said the watchdog would make its final investigation report public once the inquest concluded.