Ex-cage fighter given life behind bars after stabbing Wigan beautician

An ex-cage fighter has been jailed for life for the murder of a beautician in Wigan and the attempted murder of a member of the public who tried to intervene.

Violent criminal Andrew Wadsworth, 37, stabbed to death beautician Melissa Belshaw, 32, two months after he came out of prison consumed by an obsession about her sex life.

Fuelled by cocaine and alcohol, Wadsworth subjected Ms Belshaw to a prolonged attack in her bedroom.

A passer-by bravely rescued Ms Belshaw's 13-year-old daughter by smashing into the house in Billinge, Wigan, with a hammer before Wadsworth came outside and chased a stranger who he pinned to the ground and knifed repeatedly before police intervened.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday found the defendant guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Today Wadsworth was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 32 years.

He was cleared of making a threat to kill against Ms Belshaw's daughter.

The trial heard Wadsworth, of Cranfield Road, Wigan, regularly accused Ms Belshaw from September 2019 of cheating on him, including by working as a prostitute.

She denied getting paid for sex but days before her murder on May 20, she admitted she had a "sugar daddy'' who paid her £1,200 per week.

Wadsworth admitted stabbing Ms Belshaw at her home in Upholland Road but relied on a partial defence to murder of a loss of control by what he claimed she had said to him shortly before the stabbing.

He said he was humiliated and betrayed'' by what he said were shock revelations from her about being a prostitute since their relationship began in March 2018 while she had "cried poverty'' to him.

Wadsworth said Ms Belshaw went on to tell him she had sex with two of her relatives, a police officer and also engaged in sex parties with people he knew.

Another revelation, he said, was that she helped set up a robbery in which he was injured.

Tim Storrie QC, prosecuting, said the so-called revelations were merely "recycled accusations'' and amounted to a character assassination of Ms Belshaw in an attempt to shift the blame.

Wadsworth came out of prison on licence in November 2017 following convictions in 2011 for robbery, possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, aggravated burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was recalled in January 2019 after a positive test for cocaine and was then released again on March 4 this year following a parole board hearing.

Wadsworth was sent to live at an approved hostel but was allowed to move to his mother's address just a fortnight later because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trial heard how van driver Kevin Moores, 40, heard the voice of a distressed girl from the bedroom of a house in Upholland Road on the afternoon of May 20.

He broke a window at the side of the front door and carried Ms Belshaw's daughter to safety while Wadsworth paced upstairs.

Mr Moores later kicked knife-wielding Wadsworth on the leg while he was on top of Ms Belshaw's neighbour, Gerard Bristow, who then managed to break free.

Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe, of GMP’s Major Incident Support Unit, said: “I would like to start by saying that our thoughts remain with Melissa’s loved ones - in particular her daughter who witnessed this incident. They are, understandably, devastated by what happened to Melissa. Specialist officers have supported them throughout our investigation and this prosecution. I hope today’s result provides them with a sense of justice.

“I would also like to commend the members of the public who tried to intervene. It takes incredible courage to put your own life at risk to save another’s.

“Wadsworth’s attacks on both Melissa and the man were extremely violent. Prison is the right place for him. I thank the investigation team and partner agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service, for their hard work to ensure that Wadsworth was quickly arrested and has now faced justice. I hope during his time behind bars he spends a significant amount reflecting on his despicable actions."

Melissa's family said: "May 20th 2020 - the day our family lost a mum, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. Nothing will ever be the same again. Life as we knew it changed the day that monster took Melissa from us - her life taken in a remorseless attack.

"The complete and utter loss has destroyed our family - we will never come to terms with her death and our hearts will never heal from the sadness and despair that we all feel. Every day we think about what happened and we will never understand why Melissa died in such a brutal and senseless way - it is something we will never come to terms with. It breaks our hearts to know that we will never see her again.

"The trial has been an extremely traumatic experience as we’ve had to sit through every detail of how Melissa was killed. The defence continually tried to destroy her memory and showed a total lack of sympathy or sensitivity towards the family and the loss we have suffered.

“Although our hearts are truly broken, the love and support we have had for Melissa gives us the strength to at least try and move forward.

"As a family, we welcome today’s outcome, however it doesn’t bring her back.

“We would like to thank the police and everyone involved for their help and support throughout this investigation, in bringing this case to court as well as getting the conviction and today's sentence.

"Please respect our privacy now at this time."