ANDREW WADSWORTH

EX-CAGE FIGHTER GETS LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF EX-GIRLFRIEND

A 37-year-old ex-cage fighter named Andrew Wadsworth has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 32 years for the murder of his former partner, Melissa Belshaw, at her home in Billinge, Wigan.

The court learned that Wadsworth, obsessed with her sex life, launched a brutal attack using a kitchen knife in May—just two months after his release from prison on licence.

High on alcohol and cocaine, he stabbed Melissa, who was 32, in front of her 13-year-old daughter.

In the course of the attack, he also left the house to stab neighbor Gerard Bristow, who sustained serious injuries.

Wadsworth was found guilty of both murder and attempted murder, and had earlier pleaded guilty to two assaults on police officers.

Justice Yip condemned Wadsworth for spreading false accusations to tarnish Melissa’s reputation and for persistently degrading her memory after her death.

The court also acknowledged a brave passer-by, who helped rescue Melissa’s daughter and assisted the neighbor to escape.

Melissa Belshaw’s family shared their grief, saying they would “never heal from the sadness and despair” and noting that “life as we knew it changed forever the day that monster took Melissa from us.” Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe described Wadsworth’s violence as “extremely serious” and reinforced that he rightly belongs in prison for his actions.