The teenage killers locked up for 'dreadful' stabbing of dad in his own home

Teenagers who carried out a 'dreadful' knife killing - slaughtering a father in his own home - can today be named as they were locked up for at least 72 years.

Kriesha Stroud was just 15 when she recruited boyfriend Jordan Tams, 17, and Leandro Lopes, then 17 and now 18, to attack Gary Belfield and his son, Luke Williams, in a "senseless" attack in their home in Gateshead. Gary, 40, died at the scene.

ChronicleLive successfully applied for reporting restrictions which had previously prevented the publication of the names of Stroud and Tams, due to their age, to be lifted by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

The judge, who described the attack as 'dreadful', ordered Tams and Lopes must serve at least 26 years while Stroud must serve a minimum 20 years.

After organising the fatal attack at the father and son's home in Felling, Gateshead, Stroud was later covertly recorded as saying she was "glad" Mr Belfield died and "disappointed" his son had survived. Now Stroud, of Eastcote Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, Tams, of Wesley Court, Felling, Gateshead and Lopes, of Archer Street, Wallsend, have all been detained at His Majesty's pleasure, which is effectively a life sentence for youths.

Mr Justice Constable said the "dreadful attack" was "shocking not just for its brutality and senselessness but because it was encouraged and carried out by three who were at the time children".

In a victim impact statement, Luke said: "I feel like what happened that night is senseless. They didn't ask for anything but I sensed they had purpose. To me these three people are vile human beings.

"Seeing them laughing and joking pre and post court sessions tells me they have no remorse. A lot has been made of them being children. Those children stole