Two men and a teenager have been found guilty of murdering a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Heywood after a dispute over a cannabis debt.

Callum Riley was found with serious injuries on Atholl Drive on Saturday, September 17, 2022 and died shortly afterwards.

Around 5am on that day, Callum and his 20-year-old friend went to Tony Adams’ house armed with glass bottles following threats having been issued and damage caused to the windows at the Rileys' home address.

Inside the address were Adams, Dale Heywood and a 17-year-old boy and the group were prepared for Callum's arrival and his friend, and opened the door armed with a knife and baseball bat between them.

In the melee that followed, Callum was fatally stabbed, and his friend was also stabbed before both were chased away.

Police later found Callum collapsed on Atholi Drive and he died from a single stab wound to the back of his left thigh.

Callum's friend was treated in hospital for a stab wound to his stomach.

During the police investigation that followed, it became clear that it was not an isolated incident and that there was "bad blood" between Callum and Adams. This was due to a cannabis debt owed to Adams by Callum.

In the early hours of September 17, Adams, Heywood, Owen Maher, 20, Clayton Moores, 20, and the 17-year-old boy had been to Callum's address, armed with weapons.

Callum was not in his house at the time and the group broke a window at his address before leaving.

The day before, on September 16, Stephen Kendall, 25, one of Adams’ associates, confronted a friend of Callum's while in the pub, threatening him with a knife.

Callum responded by issuing threats towards Adams and his associates.

Adams was "not prepared to stand for this and wanted to teach Callum a lesson".

After Callum and his friend had fled from Adams’ address, Michelle Conaghan, 35, in a bid to destroy any evidence of what had taken place, began cleaning up, thereby assisting those who murdered the teenager.

As well as murder, Adams, 34, of Minshull New Road, Crewe, Heywood, 26, of Windermere Road, Middleton, and a 17-year-old boy have been convicted of grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage, which Adams pleaded guilty to.

This followed a lengthy trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Maher, of Shaftesbury Drive, Heywood, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Moores, of Newbury Grove, Heywood, pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage.

Kendall, of Newhouse Road, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to affray.

Michelle Conaghan, of Minshull New Road, Crewe, was convicted of assisting an offender.

Niomi Conaghan, 19, also of Minshull New Road, Crewe, was acquitted of assisting an offender.​

Sentencing will take place at a later date.

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Rebecca Macaulay-Addison, specialist prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit said: “Tony Adams and his associates could have stayed in the house and called the police, but they chose to arm themselves and fight, with fatal consequences for 17-year-old Callum Riley and serious injuries for his 20-year-old friend.

“The prosecution team worked with Greater Manchester Police from an early stage in the investigation to build a strong case to show that Adams, Heywood and the 17-year-old boy were jointly responsible for the death of Callum Riley.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Callum Riley at this difficult time.”