Melissa Belshaw murder trial: This is the violent past of murderer Andrew Wadsworth

The 37-year-old was today found guilty of murdering 32-year-old mother Melissa Belshaw at her home in Up Holland Road, Billinge, in May. But his sentencing on Thursday December 3 will not be the first time he will be handed a lengthy prison term.

In 2011 he was jailed for 10 years for a terrifying armed raid on a house, in which the victim was left with a brain haemorrhage after he was struck with a hammer.

Wadsworth was jailed for the attack, which left Craig Anderson seriously injured, after his DNA was found in a balaclava at the scene.

A jury at Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mr Anderson, and his teenaged girlfriend, were house-sitting for his father at the targeted premises on August 12, 2009, when Wadsworth and an unknown accomplice struck. The men, wearing balaclavas, arrived about 10.30pm and began their horror attack by hurling a paving slab through the front door of the house, in Ruabon Crescent, Hindley Green, and bursting in.

Wadsworth, 27, who was armed with a hammer, and his companion, who brandished a baseball bat, demanded money, said Karen Brooks, prosecuting.

Wadsworth struck Mr Anderson over the head with the hammer, and also twice struck his terrified 17-year-old girlfriend, when she tried to protect him.

She grabbed £30 cash from upstairs, and after using a pepper spray on Mr Anderson, the two intruders fled.

The badly-injured victim was taken to hospital, where it was found he had suffered a brain haemorrhage and needed about 40 stitches to his injuries.

Investigating police officers found two discarded balaclavas, one of which was found to contain Wadsworth’s DNA.

When officers raided his home, they found a pair of Timberland boots which matched footprints found at the scene.

Wadsworth, formerly of Burns Close, Worsley Mesnes, was already serving a five-year sentence for two robberies at a bookies and pharmacy, while armed with an imitation gun when he was convicted of aggravated burglary and wounding Mr Anderson with intent. He denied both offences, and claimed he was not involved in the raid.

Jailing him for 10 years, to run consecutively to his existing term, Judge Nigel Gilmour, QC said he was satisfied that he was the intruder armed with the hammer.

“The occupiers must have feared for their lives,” he added.

Judge Gilmour said that he believed Wadsworth was a dangerous offender, and imposed a two-year extended licence.

Wadsworth later had another year added to his sentence after a makeshift knife and mobile phones were found in his cell.

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