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Jail for murder bid millionairess | Jail for murder bid millionairess |
(20 minutes later) | |
A businesswoman has been jailed for eight years for plotting to kill her former partner and his partner. | A businesswoman has been jailed for eight years for plotting to kill her former partner and his partner. |
Ann Hunter, 50, from Chiswick, London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of persuading boyfriend Anton Lee to find a hitman to murder Colin Love, 54. | Ann Hunter, 50, from Chiswick, London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of persuading boyfriend Anton Lee to find a hitman to murder Colin Love, 54. |
Hunter denied the charge, but pleaded guilty to soliciting Lee to commit grievous bodily harm on Judith Love. | Hunter denied the charge, but pleaded guilty to soliciting Lee to commit grievous bodily harm on Judith Love. |
Lee, 44, of Stanmore, Middlesex, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to soliciting murder. | Lee, 44, of Stanmore, Middlesex, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to soliciting murder. |
During sentencing, Hunter was told by judge Brian Barker that she was callous and manipulative and had used her besotted lover to achieve her aims. | During sentencing, Hunter was told by judge Brian Barker that she was callous and manipulative and had used her besotted lover to achieve her aims. |
You brought disgrace upon yourselves and pain and anguish to those who love you Judge Brian Barker | You brought disgrace upon yourselves and pain and anguish to those who love you Judge Brian Barker |
He said: "It is a tragedy to see two people of ability, achievement and admiration in this court. | He said: "It is a tragedy to see two people of ability, achievement and admiration in this court. |
"You brought disgrace upon yourselves and pain and anguish to those who love you." | "You brought disgrace upon yourselves and pain and anguish to those who love you." |
The judge said to Lee: "You had taken leave of your senses. The context of your crime is breathtaking in its audacity and coldness." | The judge said to Lee: "You had taken leave of your senses. The context of your crime is breathtaking in its audacity and coldness." |
The prosecution said Hunter could not accept the end of her 22-year relationship with Mr Love. | The prosecution said Hunter could not accept the end of her 22-year relationship with Mr Love. |
Undercover policeman | Undercover policeman |
She sent a series of abusive emails to Mr Love and developed an "uncontrollable hatred" for his new partner who moved into a £600,000 Bedfordshire mansion, which the defendant had previously shared with him, the court heard. | |
Things came to a head when Mr Love married the teenage sweetheart he had met again through the Friends Reunited website. | Things came to a head when Mr Love married the teenage sweetheart he had met again through the Friends Reunited website. |
In court it was said Lee, who had initially been Mr Love's accountant, went along with the plan to kill Mr and Mrs Love. | In court it was said Lee, who had initially been Mr Love's accountant, went along with the plan to kill Mr and Mrs Love. |
But when they approached a man in October 2005 they believed to be a hitman, they did not know they were talking to an undercover policeman, who was alerted after a tip-off. | But when they approached a man in October 2005 they believed to be a hitman, they did not know they were talking to an undercover policeman, who was alerted after a tip-off. |
Hunter had a 22-year relationship with Colin Love | Hunter had a 22-year relationship with Colin Love |
Hunter was said to have changed her mind after meeting him and handed over £5,000, with £5,000 to follow. She said she only needed Mrs Love maimed - for her to be blinded or put in a wheelchair. | Hunter was said to have changed her mind after meeting him and handed over £5,000, with £5,000 to follow. She said she only needed Mrs Love maimed - for her to be blinded or put in a wheelchair. |
She was also given a concurrent five year sentence for plotting to maim Mrs Love. | She was also given a concurrent five year sentence for plotting to maim Mrs Love. |
Using the name Ann Hunter-Love, Hunter was an executive with major companies including Unilever before leaving to become managing director of a company making Tommee Tippee baby products in Northumberland before her arrest. | Using the name Ann Hunter-Love, Hunter was an executive with major companies including Unilever before leaving to become managing director of a company making Tommee Tippee baby products in Northumberland before her arrest. |
As a successful mother and director, she was saluted as "superwoman" by colleagues. | As a successful mother and director, she was saluted as "superwoman" by colleagues. |
Outside court, Det Sgt Nick Bush said: "This was a very serious offence which has been shown by the sentence handed down by the judge. | Outside court, Det Sgt Nick Bush said: "This was a very serious offence which has been shown by the sentence handed down by the judge. |
"But this is a very unusual case - we don't get many of them." | "But this is a very unusual case - we don't get many of them." |