A MUM-OF-FIVE who stalked and hired a hitman to kill her former lover after he ended their affair has been sentenced to seven years in jail.
Helen Hewlett began the secret relationship with her co-worker when they met at a Linda McCartney factory in Fakenham, Norfolk.
But, to the 44-year-old's dismay, the brief fling was called-off after a steamy sexual encounter in the back of her car – in the factory carpark.
When married dad-of-three, Paul Belton, regretted the liaison he put a stop to their sneaking around.
Hewlett then paid more than £20,000 worth of Bitcoin to hire a hitman from Online Killers Market – a bogus site on the dark web – to get revenge, a court heard.
Her chilling advert to organise the 50-year-old's murder was shared by Norfolk Police, it read: "Need someone killed in Norfolk, vital it is made to look like an accident, order has been placed through the order page and money is waiting in escrow, have home address, work address, work times and social media information if needed."
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The mum-of-five previously denied soliciting murder and stalking between January 1, 2020 and August 13 last year.
But a jury found her unanimously guilty of both charges in February after two days of deliberation and an 11-day trial.
Appearing at Norwich Crown Court today, Judge Katharine Moore told Hewlett: “You were angry and upset when Paul Belton did not wish to pursue a relationship with you.
“Your response to that rejection was to embark on a course of action which began with attempts to engage him in communication, progressed into stalking and culminated in solicitation to murder.”
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At the trial, the court heard how the defendant became "utterly fixated" with her secret lover.
She began bombarding him with emails, sending him naked pictures of herself and begging to see him.
She even quit her job at the Linda McCartney factory to follow the 50-year-old when he was made redundant and found a new position at the Kinnerton Confectionery factory – who supply chocolate to Tesco.
The jilted lover claimed Paul bullied her and sexually harassed women in the workplace – but these allegations were branded "malicious" by the company.
When her attempts failed, the defendant is thought to have anonymously phoned Tesco's whistle-blower complaint department.
On the call, she accused Paul of making homophobic comments in the workplace.
Your response to that rejection was to embark on a course of action which began with attempts to engage him in communication, progressed into stalking and culminated in solicitation to murder.”
Yet again Hewlett's allegations were rejected by bosses – and they advised Paul to make an official police report for harassment.
When all else failed, the court heard how the former factory worker found a website that claimed it could organise fatal snake bites, undetectable poisons, shootings, and car accidents with a "100 per cent job completion rate".
The court were told the 44-year-old took the time to transfer £22,601 from her current bank accounts in 35 transactions.
The determined defendant used up her savings, an overdraft and loans for £7,000 and £5,000 from the Royal Bank of Scotland to complete the payments.
The court heard chilling details about how the scorned lover searched for news articles about fatalities in Norfolk after ordering the hit.
It was discovered later that the website was fake and Hewlett was arrested on August 12 last year.
Prosecutor Marti Blair said today: “Mrs Hewlett took every step possible which she could do in terms of wanting to get a hitman to carry out the job.
“She made a deposit, negotiated the price, and made further payments.
"Even when she was potentially put off because of the price, she ignored that and transferred more money.
"She believed she was dealing with a genuine hitman.”
Paul said in a victim Impact statement read out to the court: “I'm now anxious, suffering from anxiety most days of my life now, whether it's getting to and from work, shopping, football.
"I find myself constantly checking my driveway and am worried if anyone that I don't recognise approaches my house”.
Mrs Hewlett took every step possible which she could do in terms of wanting to get a hitman to carry out the job."
While the defendant chose not to speak in court, she previously told police she never wanted him to be killed.
She said: “I put a post on a forum. It was to vent more than anything and to say things that I was feeling.
"It was more stupid than serious. It was a way of making me feel better.”
She alleged she thought Paul would stay safe until she gave the hitman a final go-ahead.
Matthew McNiff, Hewlett's defence barrister, argued it was clear the website was an “absolute sham” and its promises were “palpable nonsense".
He told the court at trial that her requests were a “way for her to vent and feel that she was being heard and listened to."
“All her attempts were rebuffed and rejected," he added today.
"In the world that she had created for herself, this was something that served a therapeutic purpose."
VERDICT
But Judge Moore told Hewlett: “You were doing so to check whether your solicitation to murder was acted upon.
"In fact there is nothing to suggest that you managed to arrange a contract killing.
“Rather it appears you were duped into paying money to a fraudulent website.
"The fact that nobody acted on your request is significant, but it is also a matter of good fortune as far as you are concerned.”
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Judge Moore said the defendant had “a vengeful streak” and was "a dangerous offender” who displayed little remorse.
Hewlett was sentenced to seven years in jail which will be followed by a five and a half year licence period upon her release.
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