Men jailed for life for “senseless and violent” murder of teenager Callum Riley

Three men have been jailed for life for the murder of 17-year-old Callum Riley, who was stabbed to death over a £180 drug debt in 2022.

Tony Adams had smashed the windows of Callum's home in Heywood, which led to Callum and a friend visiting Adams’ house armed with glass bottles, which they threw at the property in the early hours of September 2022.

Emergency services responded after Callum was found unresponsive in a garden on Atholl Drive with a deep stab wound to his leg.

A friend of Callum was also found seriously injured with a stab wound to his stomach but survived after receiving emergency medical treatment.

A murder investigation was launched and a blood trail led police to Tony Adams’ house on Atholl Drive. It soon became apparent that the two victims had been stabbed in the doorway of the house. Adams had been seeking to recover a drug debt from Callum for a number of months.

Adams and four other men had forced their way into Callum’s house where he lived with his mother and brother. Callum was not at home at the time, but the five men threatened his family in an attempt to intimidate him and enforce the debt.

At the sentencing this week, Tony Adams, 35, of Crewe was convicted of murder and section 18 assault and pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 24 years.

Dale Heywood, 26, of Middleton was convicted of murder, section 18 assault, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage and has been jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 24 years.

Niall Conaghan, 18, of Crewe was convicted of murder, section 18 assault and criminal damage and pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and has been jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 8 years.

In addition to the trio of sentencings, a 35-year-old female was convicted of assisting an offender and has received a sentence of 9 months suspended for 18 months.

Earlier, at a separate hearing at Manchester Crown Court in April, three other men were sentenced for their involvement.

A 25-year-old man pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to a community order. Two men aged 20 and 21 pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon and were both sentenced to detention for a period of 6 months, suspended for 12 months.
 

Read more: Three people found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Callum Riley in HeywoodPublished: 12 March 2024

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Louise Edwards of GMP’s Major Investigations Team said: “Today is the culmination of an extensive investigation into the murder of Callum.

“Firstly, I want to be clear that this was not a case of self-defence. Tony Adams set in motion a chain of violent events where he planned and welcomed a confrontation with a teenager.

"Adams, Dale Heywood and Niall Conaghan were armed with weapons including a knife and a baseball bat in the expectation of violence they had planned for and hoped would start.

“They created a situation in which Callum would come to Atholl Drive, armed themselves and opened the door rather than calling the police.

"Those violent actions have devastated so many lives. The family and friends of Callum have had to face the loss of a loved one in such terrible circumstances.

“My thoughts are with them today and whilst the sentences imposed can never undo what has been done, I hope it will bring them some form of closure.

“I would like to thank the investigation team for their hard work during this complex investigation and the prosecution team in building the strongest possible case.”

Detective Sergeant Adam Hitchen said: “Tony Adams, Dale Heywood and Niall Conaghan robbed a teenager of his life and future when they committed this senseless and violent crime over a £180 cannabis debt.

“Callum did not deserve to die and there are no justifications for their actions. I would like to thank Callum’s family for their courage and dignity throughout this investigation. I would also like to pay tribute to the witnesses who have assisted Greater Manchester Police in our investigation.

“This case is another example of the tragic consequences of knife crime and I would like to use this case to issue an appeal against carrying knives. Had weapons not been used that night, we might not be here today.

Knives can have terrible, fatal consequences - for victims and offenders - and I urge you to think very carefully about the risks and not carry knives.

"If you have any information about knife crime, please do get in touch with police on 101, or via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."