Three jailed for murder of teenager in Heywood

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

A murder investigation was launched, and a blood trail led police to Tony Adams’ house on Atholl Drive.

Adams had been seeking to recover a drug debt from Callum for a number of months.

After a number of threats and damage was made to Callum’s house and to his family, he went to Adams’ house with a friend to confront him about the damage he had caused.

Adams, Dale Heywood and Niall Conaghan had armed themselves with weapons including a baseball bat and a knife, and were lying in wait for the pair, launching an attack within seconds of them entering his garden.

The pair managed to run from the address and were chased up Atholl Drive.

Callum only made it a short distance before succumbing to his injuries.

Callum Riley (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

He was found unresponsive later that morning in a garden by members of the public.

Adams initially claimed to police that he had acted in self-defence. However, he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and grievous bodily harm.

Heywood was reported missing by his father after the incident but was quickly located in Burnley by police on September 18, 2022, and arrested on suspicion of murder.

During his arrest, he said: “I am really, really, really, really sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was self-defence, it was self-defence.”

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

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

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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 six months, suspended for 12 months.

Adams, 35, of Minshull New Road, Crewe was convicted of murder and grievous bodily harm and pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been jailed for life with a minimum of 24 years.

Heywood, 26, of Windermere Road, Middleton, was convicted of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage and has been jailed for life, also with a minimum of 24 years.

Conaghan,18, of Minshull New Road, Crewe, was convicted of murder, grievous bodily harm and criminal damage and pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and has been jailed for life with a minimum of eight years.

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Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Louise Edwards, of Greater Manchester Police's major investigations team said: “This 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, and while 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.”

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Detective Sergeant Adam Hitchen added: “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."