Helen Hewlett used the dark web to try to hire a killer to take out a man she had become obsessed with
A woman who tried to hire a hitman to kill a former work colleague after a fling has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being found guilty of soliciting murder.
Helen Hewlett, 44, of King’s Lynn in Norfolk, paid £17,000 as a deposit to a website used for recruiting contract killers, her trial heard.
She was arrested after police linked her to payments made to the site.
Hewlett was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court.
During her trial, the court heard Hewlett’s target was a 50-year-old colleague with whom she had become infatuated after a brief affair.
Hewlett and Paul Belton met when they worked at the Linda McCartney frozen food factory in Fakenham and had a kiss in his car.
The jury was told Hewlett had placed an order on the dark web stating “need someone killed in Norfolk”, adding it was “vital it looks like an accident”.
Image source, Norfolk Police
Norfolk Police issued this screengrab of the message placed on the website used by Helen Hewlett
Mr Belton told the court that Hewlett had “become obsessed with him” and over a period of two years, until August 2022, she bombarded him with emails and texts, urging him to meet her.
These included sexual images and videos of herself.
When Mr Belton left for another job at Kinnerton chocolate factory, Hewlett managed to get herself work at the same place.
The jury was told that Hewlett made complaints against Mr Belton to his employers, accusing him of harassment, homophobia and racial abuse.
The company told him there was no case to answer and advised Mr Belton to contact the police, which he did.
Hewlett followed her victim to the Kinnerton factory, securing a job there, after he joined the firm
After officers visited Hewlett, she initially ceased contact with Mr Belton, but resumed emailing him soon afterwards, saying she was “sorry”.
Before posting her request for a killer on the website, Hewlett had placed money into an escrow third-party account.
She gave Mr Belton’s home and work address and other personal details on the website, the court heard.
Hewlett took out a number of loans to pay for the killing, but investigators were unable to say if the cash went to a potential hitman, or if the online killers market site was a scam.
‘A vengeful streak’
Sentencing Hewlett, Judge Katharine Moore said: “You plainly caused emotional harm. Mr Belton suffered significantly.
“Fortunately you were duped [on the dark web] and there was no contract killer.”
She told Hewlett: “You have long-standing depression and no support… your family wants nothing more to do with you.
“You are saddened by the situation you are in, but you have shown little genuine remorse.
“You have a vengeful streak… your risk of reoffending is higher than assessed [from the psychiatric report].”
The judge described Hewlett as “a dangerous offender”.
Hewlett will spend a further five years on licence following her custodial term.
She was also handed a restraining order for the foreseeable future preventing her from going near Mr Belton or his family at their home or work.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk
Related Topics
Related Internet Links
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
