FORMER Love Island, Casey Gorman, star has hit back after the current ITV reality stars poked fun at him.

Earlier this year, Casey, 28, was crowned the winner of Love Island: All Stars, alongside Gabby Allen, 33.

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Casey O’Gorman got a mention on last night’s Love Island episode[/caption]

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His veteran status as a Love Island contestant was mocked by the Islanders[/caption]

The Love Island veteran and Gabby split a few months after their win, but Casey’s name came up on Friday’s episode of the current Love Island series.

He responded to a meme that was shared to the official Love Island account, that saw the current Islanders sitting around the fire pit when his name came up.

“Wasn’t Casey on Love Island twice?” asked one of the stars.

Yasmin quickly snapped back: “No, it was three times, actually,” as the other cast laughed in response.

Casey was surprised by the short video being shared to the Love Island account and sent its moderators a DM asking, “hahahahah ffs who runs this account?”

To which the unnamed moderator replied: “Wassup Casey?”

Love Island fans mocked Casey and his surprise cameo reference in last night’s episode.

“Y’all messyyyyyyy,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added: “Oops.”

And a third wrote: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.”

Casey’s mention on the show comes after Love Island bosses refused to rule out him making a fourth return to the ITV series.

Speaking to The Sun earlier this month, show boss Mike Spencer-Hayter was asked if he’d been banned from the show yet.

He replied: “I love Casey!

“I mean, we have had a lot of people come forward and say that if All Stars three happens, people want to be on it.”

Casey first shot to fame as a latecomer during the 2023 winter series.

He then came back as a bombshell for the first All Stars spin-off in 2023.

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He was also trolled on social media[/caption]

GrandWest is set to expand its footprint with the introduction of GrandWest Mall, a retail centre that will add 60 new stores to the area.

BUNDEE AKI has admitted that the Lions have already fallen short of Andy Farrell’s tour targets.

The Lions depart for Australia on Saturday afternoon for nine matches Down Under, including the three-Test series against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

But their campaign got off to a disappointing start when they were defeated by Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

Some former players and pundits suggested that the loss might not be the worst thing in the long run but Aki – who scored the first try for the 2025 Lions – was having none of it.

The Connacht star said: “Faz set out the aim for us to win every single game, so to be able to not come out with the result that we wanted in the first game, look, it’s just got to be one of those things where we learn quickly.

“You know Faz,. He gives it to us straight, there’s no mucking around or no hiding here, he just tells you how it is.

“We were obviously disappointed, it wasn’t the result we were after. But full credit to Argentina, they’re a great side, we won’t take that away from them. They played unbelievably well 

“You can feel the frustration and deflation of the boys in the changing room. But look, we’ll just take it on the chin, whatever the coaches are throwing at us. 

“We’ll move on, learn and bounce back against another great outfit in the Western Force.

“We’re adults, we’re old enough to be able to take it. There’s no point in trying to sulk about it, you’ve got to be able to take it on the chin and move on quickly as a group.”

Aki felt he should have linked up better with Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu and knows there will be no shortage of players looking to take his place in midfield.

He said: “To be able to pick from four different countries, you’ve obviously got to make sure you perform because every single player that’s been picked in the squad is to be able to do a job.

“And if you don’t deliver there are guys that are willing to put their hand up and be able to take that opportunity.

“We all know how Sione is as a player, he’s bloody class. The frustrating thing for me was I wasn’t able to connect well with him.

“He’s been my roomy lately. He snores a fair bit at the moment, so he keeps me up at night. But yeah, he’s a great man.

“He speaks out loud, which is good because that’s what we need, him being himself and I just feed off him and he feeds off me. 

“He’s an unbelievable player and there’s no excuse, we’ve got to get better as a partnership going forward and whoever it is, Garry Ringrose, Huw Jones, Elliot Daly, as a unit we’ve got to make sure we gel together and try get that cohesiveness fairly quick because we need to be better.”

Aki admitted that he would have been in trouble with Tommy Freeman had he not been able to overpower three Argentines to score this try when the Northampton man was free on the outside.

He said: “The hard work was done by the front five there and the backs were there, I just got the ball and was lucky enough to be able to cross the line. I think Freemo was giving me a bit of grief there, I should have passed it to him.

“It’s always nice to cross the line but it would have been even better if we got the win.”

FAN-TASTIC SUPPORT

But he did appreciate the support from the crowd, particularly when the 2021 Tour took place during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “I don’t think the fans fully understand how much it means to us. As a group of players, to be able to walk out onto that pitch and see a sea of red is something phenomenal out there.

“I genuinely got goosebumps when I ran outside and saw the sea of red out there. It’s unbelievable, it’s actually unreal compared to what we had the last time, which was no fans. 

“Then to be able to hear them sing Fields of Athenry, it’s nice, and being able to hear the loud cheers and everything. It just means a lot.

“Compared to the last Lions tour we had where it was just empty and you could just hear yourself shouting, it’s quite nice to be able to hear the fans shouting for you, so it was lovely.”

ISRAEL will continue blitzing Iran’s nuclear sites with or without the US joining strikes, Benjamin Netanyahu’s ex-adviser says.

It comes as Donald Trump has revealed he has opened a two-week window for talks as he mulls whether America will intervene in the conflict.

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Israel has already struck a number of nuclear targets in Iran[/caption]

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Damage inflicted on Tel Aviv after a missile[/caption]

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Netanyahu will push on with his bombing campaign with or without US help[/caption]

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Iran and Israel have been trading missiles for over a week[/caption]

The US president, through White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said there is “a substantial chance of negotiations…with Iran in the near future“.

Trump had previously tried to curb Tehran’s sprawling nuclear scheme through diplomacy.

He gave Iran’s regime 60 days to thrash out a deal – a deadline that passed two days before Israel unleashed unprecedented strikes on Iran’s nuke sites last Friday.

Trump has this week been weighing whether to give the green light for the US to step in and deploy a 15-ton mega bunker buster bomb.

America’s intervention has repeatedly been touted by Trump, who warned Iran would suffer the “full strength and might” of his military.

But Netanyahu’s ex-adviser Nadav Shtrauchler – who told The Sun the Israeli PM was preparing to strike Iran alone days before he did – said the embattled nation is prepared to carry on without the US.

He said: “Of course Israel can carry on.

“I think it is going swifter here than people thought when they planned it.

“So Israel can proceed and have many targets to go through.”

Strategic adviser Shtrauchler said he believes the conflict will end with an agreement being thrashed out – and said America’s involvement could change the course of the conflict.

US participation would most likely involve strikes against Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility, considered to be out of reach to all but America’s bunker-buster bombs.

Shtrauchler added: “It’s a different story with the US, both with the military and the geopolitical side. It’s a big deal and will change things.

“It’s going to end with an agreement if the regime does not fall, but it is too soon to know that.

“So if the US decides against intervening you wil see more from the Israel side and at some point it will end with an agreement.

“It will make an effect and will change the end result. 

“But for now we can see that Israel is working very well itself and we can proceed like this – not without the US support but without the US intervening.”

It comes as Israel and Iran continue to trade heavy blows – with no sign of de-escalation in the weeklong battle.

European and Iranian officials met yesterday in Geneva, and Trump has said he will allow two weeks for negotiations before deciding whether to strike the rogue nation.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi made a condition for renewed talks a ceasefire, saying: “There is no room for negotiations with the U.S. until Israeli aggression stops.”

Talks later on Friday between Araghchi and officials from the EU ended without a breakthrough after four hours.

No date was set for the next round of talks, aimed at getting Iran back to the negotiating table with the US.

Missiles continued to rain down in Iran and Israel as the talks were held on Friday in a scramble to de-escalate the conflict.

Netanyahu has insisted Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue for as long as it takes to eliminate the “existential threat” of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles.

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Trump will decide within two weeks whether to join Israel’s campaign[/caption]

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Smoke pours from Iran’s state broadcaster building following an Israeli attack[/caption]

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Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is refusing to back down[/caption]

Israel’s top general echoed the warning, saying the Israeli military was ready for a prolonged campaign.

Iran previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal.

But after Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60 per cent a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Access was also restricted access to its nuclear facilities.

Netanyahu signed off a plot to bomb Iran’s nuke facilities last week – killing several of its top generals and nuclear scientists, and striking several nuclear facilities.

Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates.

Most have been shot down by Israel’s multitiered air defenses, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.

ALLIGATORS are one of nature’s toughest predators.

Every year thousands of people visit Florida every year to get a glimpse of the lurking beasts.

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Can you find the alligator hidden in this swamp?[/caption]

But unless they are out in the open or strolling along the side of the road, the ferocious reptiles can be quite hard to spot.

Their scaly dark skin allows them to blend in with the murky swamps of the southwest Florida and the Everglades.

So it really takes someone with sharp eyes to find a gator that wants to hide.

A visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary just outside Naples, Florida, provided the top opportunity to put the eyes to the test while wandering along the boardwalks.

Somewhere in the swamp picture above, there is a lurking alligator but if you look close enough then you might just be able to see her.

Female alligators are typically smaller than males, making this one much harder to see.

The knobbly monster is also blending in with the leaves, brown water and other swamp plants.

And to make things even harder, the sunlight reflecting off the low waters make her even more difficult to find.

The American Alligator can be found in the State’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes and is one of the most darkly coloured species of gator in the wild.

That means that if you managed to spot the alligator in the picture then you are well and truly have an eye for detail.

If you look close enough you can see her lurking near the trees.

Zooming on the image will show the scaly skin of her head and back just resting above the water.

So well done if you managed to spot her!

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Did you manage to find our alligator?[/caption]

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She was very hard to spot in the murky swamp[/caption]

Harry Williamson

A visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary gave the opportunity to see one of the amazing reptiles[/caption]

Optical illusions are becoming a popular puzzle for people wanting to put their optical illusions to the test!

Sticking with an animal theme, people have been told they have to be pretty observant is they can find all the animals in this cluttered garden.

Another brainteaser challenged people to put their detective skills to the test by finding one person in a park full of people.

One Aberdeen artist even designed a stunning optical illusion with an important message hidden in plain sight.

And our own Scottish Sun features team put our readers to the test as they challenged them to find the famous Scottish faces in these five AI-made images of natural wonders.

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The American Alligator[/caption]

FOR 13 weeks a year, parents with school-age kids scramble to find enough activities to fill the endless holiday days… without also breaking the bank.

My sons are seven and nine, and I am always on the hunt for ways to occupy them in their time off.

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Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse is a brilliant bargain hunter when it comes to kids’ activities[/caption]

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The Roald Dahl Children’s museum in Bucks is fun for kids under 10[/caption]

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Bus and train fans love the London Transport Museum[/caption]

If you’re planning to visit attractions in the UK this summer, it’s worth stealing this tip to future-proof your family fun days – and save a lot of money!

Sometimes admission prices can be eye-watering, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

As well as some brilliant, cheap days out that cost pennies, some of the more expensive attractions sometimes have an annual pass that is virtually the same cost as the one-day admission.

Sometimes, that means after just one extra visit, you can go as many times as you want for a year.

House of fun

I love a bargain and think I might have found the cheapest annual pass for my family, right here on my doorstep. 

The 1620s House and Gardens near Coalville is a medieval manor house run by Leicestershire County Council, with adult tickets that allow you entry for a year costing just £6.65.

Children can get in free with their Blue Peter badges, so if I take my three boys twice a month during its open season of Easter to the end of October, each visit costs less than 50p.

Parking is free, so that’s another huge bonus.

We love doing the children’s trails around the gorgeous gardens, with a new hunt introduced each school holidays.

The attraction also hosts outdoor theatre productions and is a glimpse into Jacobean life, with the family who lived here linked to one of the Gunpowder Plotters.

The old barn is now a tearoom, which often offers children’s craft activities and fun for families.

Our favourite is dressing up for Pirate Day in August, when families sing sea shanties, learn how to handle a pretend cutlass and finish up with a huge wet sponge fight around a cardboard box pirate ship on the lawn.

Some activities do cost a bit extra and are not included with your annual ticket, but we never spend very much.

This underrated place is such a find and there are places just like this all around the UK.

If you don’t live in the Midlands, here are some of the best spots around the country where families can get an annual pass for next to nothing. 

Catherine Lofthouse

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Cardiff Castle is right in the middle of the city – and if you live or work nearby, you’re entitled to a ‘Key to the Castle’[/caption]

Cardiff Castle

This impressive building should be a must-see for anyone spending time in the Welsh capital.

I was fascinated to find out how hidden tunnels were used to keep locals safe during the Second World War – with special ramps knocked through the thick walls so up to 1800 people could take shelter when the air raid sirens sounded.

If you live or work in the city, you’re entitled to a Key to the Castle, which gives you free access for three years.

There’s a £7.50 admin charge for adults, but it’s free for children, so a one-adult family visiting twice a month would cost about 10p per visit.

Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees

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A children’s climbing frame in Preston Park Stockton-on-Tees[/caption]

At Preston Park, one adult and three children can get admission all year round for £10, so if I took my boys twice a month, it would cost 42p a visit, as it’s open all year-round except most Mondays.

This is a fun way to spend a day, with loads to do for kids.

Head to the skatepark to watch or test your balance, let kids loose in the adventure playground or have a mini adventure on one of the designated woodland walks.

There’s also a Victorian street where visitors can buy sweets or find out about the lives of ironmongers, printers, grocers, drapers, chemists, police officers and blacksmiths.

The museum has galleries about local life and the families who lived at the park, while the walled garden is due to reopen this summer Parking is free on site.

SeaCity Museum, Southampton

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SeaCity Museum in Southampton is a very cool building[/caption]

I can highly recommend a visit here. I had almost as much fun as the kids.

There is a whole area about about the Titanic Story and it was interesting to discover the impact the disaster had on the city. 

We all enjoyed the immersive nature of the exhibition about the ‘unsinkable’ ship, which made its maiden and final voyage from Southampton Docks.

An annual pass costs £25.65 when booked online in advance for one adult and three children, so if you visited twice a month, it would cost £1.07 per visit.

There’s also a great cafe downstairs where you can get snacks and drinks and it’s lovely to see an old building being repurposed.

Scottish Wildlife Trust 

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The Falls of Clyde at New Lanark[/caption]

It’s easy to overlook the wildlife trusts that we have across the UK, but they can offer great value for money if your annual membership includes car parking on multiple sites.

Up in Scotland, wildlife trust family membership is £5 a month and includes access to visitor centres, which is usually £6.50 per adult and free for children. 

Or, if your child has a Blue Peter badge, you may be better off using that as badge-holders, accompanying children and up to two adults get in free.

If you do plump for family membership and use it twice a month, it will cost £2.50 per visit.

London Transport Museum

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The London Transport Museum is inside a former Victorian fruit and vegetable market[/caption]

There are loads of great free museums in London, but they can get very busy in the summer months. 

Instead, opt for one with an annual pass, like the London Transport Museum.

My boys love it here and it’s packed with vintage vehicles, activities like a train simulator and interactive rooms.

For young train-obsessed kids, it’s a good call if you’re going to be able to make multiple visits within 12 months.

Its location in Covent Garden is good for those visiting the West End as it’s a short stroll away from several theatres, unlike the free museums in Kensington, which feel quite isolated.

Adults pay £25 and kids go free, so if you visit twice a month, it will cost you £1.04 each trip.

Jewry Wall, Leicester 

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The Jewry Wall Museum, Leicester is built around the remains of a Roman bathhouse[/caption]

This museum based around the nine-metre high remains of a city centre bathhouse has been closed since 2017 and will reopen next month in time for the school summer holidays. 

History fans can boast they have seen one of the tallest surviving sections of Roman masonry in Britain.

It dates from about AD 160, although younger kids might not appreciate how unique it is.

While it’s no longer free to visit, the Roman Explorer Pass means you can pay once and visit all year round. 

A family of four will cost £32, so if we visit twice a month, it will be £1.33 per trip.

City of Norwich Aviation Museum

If you have a fan of flying in the family, aviation museums can be great for a day out, especially as they tend to offer a good mix of indoor and outdoor exhibits.

This museum in Norwich even has free entry for children aged under eight, so you could save money if your little one is still tiny.

There has also been a ‘kids for a quid’ scheme over the last couple of school holidays, so keep a lookout in case that makes a return over the summer.

The annual pass is only £40 for two adults and three children aged 8-16 years anyway, so if I took my family twice a month, it would be £1.66 per visit.

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Planes at the Norwich Aviation Museum[/caption]

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Little bookworms will love it here at the Roald Dahl Museum[/caption]

Roald Dahl Museum, Bucks

Little bookworms who are fans of Roald Dahl will love a visit here to immerse themselves in the wacky worlds and crazy characters created in his stories. 

The centre, which is in Buckinghamshire, has digital games, painting and crafts and children’s workshops. Ideal for children under 10.

At £42 for one adult and three children for the year, two visits a month would cost £1.75 per trip.

British Motor Museum, Coventry

With two buildings packed full of motor vehicles, there’s plenty to keep everyone happy for hours here – especially kids who love cars.

There’s a playground next to the car park and extra kids’ activities during the school holidays, so you’ll definitely want to make a return visit or two if you live close to Norwich. 

At £46 for a family of four or £52 for a family of five, getting an annual pass for my boys and me would work out at £1.92 per trip if we visited twice a month.

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A classic red mini at the British Motor Museum[/caption]

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Murton Park farming museum[/caption]

Murton Park, York

Spread across 14 acres of countryside, you’re bound to find something to keep everyone happy, whether you like playgrounds, farm animals, trips on a miniature railway or living history.

Just outside York is home to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, the park also hosts immersive reenactment events and a monthly kids’ club – all included in the price. 

At £48 for an annual pass for two adults and three children, visiting twice a month would cost £2 per trip.

The Story of Emily, Liskeard

This one might not seem an obvious choice for family-friendly fun, but if you’ve got older children interested in history, this could be a good call.

The attraction in Liskeard, highlights the work of Cornish humanitarian Emily Hobhouse, who saved the lives of thousands of Boer women and children at the end of the 19th century.

Set in the rectory where she grew up, the museum’s recently opened War Rooms give a glimpse into the world she experienced during the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa. 

The new family pass is £45 for one adult and two children, with the option to add extra children for £5 each.

Two trips a month for my three kids and me would be £2.08 per visit.

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Tram fans can ride on vintage vehicles at Crich Tramway Museum[/caption]

Crich Tramway Museum, Derbyshire

My boys love riding the heritage trams around the site and visiting the Victorian sweet shop to check out all the goodies in tall glass jars. 

There’s an indoor play area for kids under 10, as well as an outdoor playground for youngsters of all ages to enjoy. 

Tickets for a family of five booked online in advance cost £52, so that would work out at £2.17 per trip if visited twice a month.

Ironbridge Valley of Invention, Telford

This World Heritage Site boasts multiple museums, including Blists Hill Victorian Town and Enginuity, which offers hands-on science and engineering fun.

You can buy day tickets or pay to visit the museums separately, but an annual pass covers all the attractions for the whole year. 

At £61 for one adult and up to four children, it would cost £2.54 per trip to go twice a month.

It just goes to show that you don’t have to fork out hundreds to get annual memberships to historic houses, museums or nature reserves.

While spending more for the likes of National Trust or English Heritage passes gets you access to lots of sites with great facilities, supporting small and local can also pay off for both your pocket and protecting the heritage in your area.

THE UK’s longest motorway will grind to a halt today as a horde of bikers pay poignant tribute to the life of Hairy Biker Dave Myers.

Thousands of riders are expected to grab their helmets and head north to Cumbria to commemorate this year’s ‘Dave Day’ in honour of the late TV personality.

It marks the second consecutive year the memorial bike ride has taken place.

In 2024, an estimated 46,000 bikers arrived to celebrate Dave’s life following his tragic death on February 28 that year.

The bikers are expected to arrive in the county this afternoon where two days of events will begin in memory of the beloved chef.

National Highways is advising motorists to allow more time for their journeys and to plan ahead this weekend.

The motorcycle procession starts at the iconic Ace Cafe in London, with bikers joining at other rendezvous points including the Oxford Welcome Break Services at junction 8A on the M40, the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham and northbound M6 Moto Services at Knutsford between junctions 11 and 12.

National Highways Northwest Operations Manager Dee Murray said: “We are advising motorists to allow more time for their journeys with thousands more bikers than usual travelling across the motorway network this weekend.

“The M6 will be particularly busy, especially at junction 36 with the procession making its way along the A590 to Barrow, but also earlier at Knutsford Services, where motorcyclists travelling from the south will gather before completing their journeys north.

“We urge road users to take extra care with motorcyclists travelling in convoys. Safety advice can be found on our website under our TRIP and BikerTek campaigns.”

TRAGIC DEATH

Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers died on February 28, 2024 aged 66.

The beloved TV chef had battled cancer since 2022, bravely updating fans about his illness.

Dave found fame alongside Si King, his friend of 30 years, as part of the motorcycle-riding cooking duo.

His co-star announced the tragic news in a statement, prompting a flurry of emotional tributes from celebrity friends and fans alike.

Posting on Twitter, Si said: “Hi everyone, I’m afraid I bear some sad news.

“Most of you will know Dave has been fighting cancer for the past couple of years.

“Last night, on 28th February 2024, with Lili, Dave’s wife, his family, close friend David and myself by his side, he passed away peacefully at home.

“All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing. His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own.

“Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment. My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can’t follow.

“I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime.

“I wish you god’s speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world. See you on the other side. Love ya.”

City Power has cut electricity to a property where 90 undocumented foreign nationals were found living in unsafe conditions.

LUCENA CITY — Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky assumed his post on Friday as the new chief of the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO-4A), covering the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region. The designation of Wanky came after outgoing Calabarzon director Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas was appointed as acting Deputy Regional

THE alleged mastermind behind the murder of a man who was found naked and bound with duct tape sent vile texts to his ex-girlfriend before the killing, a court heard.

Thomas Campbell was ambushed on his doorstep in an attack allegedly orchestrated by his partner’s ex-boyfriend.

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John Belfield denies murder and conspiracy to rob[/caption]

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The victim’s glam ex Coleen was previously convicted for manslaughter after his death[/caption]

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Thomas Campbell was killed on July 3, 2022[/caption]

His body was discovered by his neighbours the morning after three men “pounced” on him as he arrived home late on a Saturday night, a court heard.

Manchester Crown Court was told the 38-year-old was killed on July 3, 2022 after “very careful planning by a team of highly organised criminals”.

The alleged “mastermind” of the plot is John Belfield, 31, who is on trial and denies murder.

Thomas was dating Belfield’s ex-girlfriend and he was “hostile” about the relationship, the court heard.

The victim’s glam ex Coleen was previously convicted for manslaughter after his death, and she was jailed for 13 years in 2023.

The mum-of-four passed on information about her ex husband’s movements – including details she learned from her children.

Prosecutors argue Belfield was looking for “items of value” in Thomas’, Mossley home, in Greater Manchester.

Today Manchester Crown Court heard how Belfield sent messages to his ex-girlfriend Demi-Lee Driver after she started dating Thomas.

One text read: “You and that helmet will get domed.

“Shut your mouth you dog.”

In more he wrote: “There’s not a thing you or him will do so. I think you should get my draws out your house Monday.

“And I’m going to shag his baby mum now for the point of it, you money grabbing little dog.”

The jury heard Belfield give evidence in his defence today and he admitted to dealing drugs.

He told the court he was at his sister’s house the night of the killing.

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Thomas Campbell had also been a dealer and Belfield admitted planning his steal his drugs[/caption]

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Images of the crime scene in Greater Manchester[/caption]

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Mum-of-four Coleen had passed on information about her ex husband’s movements[/caption]

Richard Wright KC, defending, asked Belfield if he understood that the prosecution were arguing he had “personal motivation” to attack Thomas because of his new relationship with Demi-Lee.

Mr Wright then asked: “Did you conspire with Coleen Campbell and others to target Mr Campbell as a victim for robbery in his own home?”

Belfield denied this and further denied that he was “motivated by jealously or anger” over Demi-Lee’s relationship with Thomas.

Belfield did admit he had planned to steal Thomas’ drugs, as he was also a dealer.

He denied knowledge of and planting a tracking device on Thomas’ van five days before the killing – but told the court he did surveil the house.

Belfield also denied bringing any torture items to the scene, which had been bought from a B&Q four days before the killing.

He agreed that he did flee the country after the murder but told the court: “I was scared his friend were going to attack me and kill me because of the rumours they had heard.”

Prosecutor Dr Philip Lumb told Manchester Crown Court earlier this week that Thomas was discovered in the hallway of his home, lying on his back after the savage attack.

“He was naked apart from a pair of socks,” he told the court.

Dr Lumb told the court Thomas’ ankles were “bound together tightly” with duct tape.

Injuries to the head and neck suggested a “sustained blunt sharp force physical assault”.

Dr Lumb argued that burns on Thomas’s body had been caused by a “hot liquid such as hot water”, MEN reported.

His arm was found with a “makeshift tourniquet” after an injury that would have bled a lot.

Dr Lumb concluded that Thomas’s cause of death included “multiple sharp force injures, blunt force head injuries” and “pressure to the neck”.

Jurors were told on Thursday of jokey messages sent to Belfield by his alleged “right-hand man” Reece Steven.

Steven, 29, was previously found guilty of Thomas’s murder with conspiracy to rob and he was sentenced to life in prison.

In a conversation about Thomas’ horror injuries, Steven wrote: “Tommy crumble. Dripping in tom juice everywhere.”

Belfield’s driver Stephen Cleworth, 38, was also convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob and was jailed for 12 years.

The identity of the third attacker remains a mystery.

Belfield denies murder and conspiracy to rob.

The trial continues.

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Colleen was jailed for 13 years in 2023[/caption]

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Reece Steven, 29, and Belfield’s driver Stephen Cleworth were both jailed for their role in Thomas’s death[/caption]