James Bellass was exposed as a brutal killer after a Preston jury last week convicted him of the murder of girlfriend Jill Fisher.

The beauty therapist and salon owner had been strangled by Bellass, 36, in a drunken, jealous rage and last week the steroid-popping fitness fanatic was sentenced to at least 17 years for her murder.

Terri-Lea Steadman still shudders when she recalls the moment she heard former boyfriend James Bellass had killed Jill Fisher at her flat in Eccleston, near Chorley.

She said: "I never thought he would have been capable of something like that but every time I think about it I feel sick."

Terri-Lea first met Bellass in Preston's Truth nightclub in 2004 and they got together when he cheekily asked her to buy him a drink.

The 22-year-old said: "He seemed a lovely genuine guy who got on with everyone when he was out round town.

"I thought he was a nice guy who was ready to settle down."
But some of her friends were aware of the killer's bad-boy reputation and warned him off.

The former dancer said: "There were girls telling me about how he played around and had a reputation as a womaniser.

"I heard all kinds of bad rumours.

"But I just thought people were jealous because James attracted a lot of attention from other women."

For the full story see Tuesday's Lancashire Evening Post



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