Dark web hitman trial: Woman ‘used loans to seek killer’

Helen Hewlett, 43, is accused of seeking to hire a hitman to target Paul Belton, 50, after being spurned after they had a brief fling.

Norwich Crown Court was told on Friday she had borrowed more than £12,000 in two bank loans in June and July last year which were among funds she then converted into Bitcoin.

King’s Lynn mum-of-five Helen Hewlett denies solicitating murder and stalking (Image: Twitter)

Prosecutors claim she then turned to the dark web placing an instruction on July 2 on a site called Online Killers Market, which purported to supply hitmen.

DC Frank Jepson, of Norfolk police, told the jury she gave the ‘target name’ Paul Belton, the location of his family home in Holt, his work address and details of his work schedule. 

She received a message back saying Bitcoin worth $22,500 had been “submitted and secured” in a holding account, the court heard. 

Two days later an advert appeared on the site under the heading ‘Job in Norfolk’ stating “Need someone killed in Norfolk – vital it looks like an accident”.

DC Jepson said her internet browsing history showed she had subsequently searched for articles on Norfolk fatalities including an accident on the A47 at King’s Lynn.

Factory staff trainer Paul Belton who Hewlett is said to have become infatuated with after being spurned a brief fling (Image: East Anglia News Service)

He added that analysis of the Tor browser she used to gain access to the dark web found she had also bookmarked other sites titled Dark Web Hitman Sites (Real), Dark Mamba Hitmen, and Hire A Hitman Service. 

The court has heard how Hewlett and Mr Belton, who are both married with children, met at the Linda McCartney vegetarian frozen food factory in Fakenham.

Mr Belton, a staff trainer, told the court after one ‘sexual event’ in a car that he ‘instantly regretted’ and did not want to go any further, she had become infatuated and bombarded him with emails.

After he moved to another Fakenham factory, Kinnerton Confectionery she made allegations deemed malicious by bosses that he had bullied, intimidated and sexually harassed women and made homophobic comments.

Helen Hewlett and Paul Belton met at the Linda McCartney food factory in Fakenham (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard on Friday that police had visited Hewlett’s home address on May 25 last year to warn her to stop contacting Mr Belton.

PC Olivia Evitt said she had appeared “very quiet and hard to read” when told she would face prosecution if she didn’t stop.

“I stressed to her the importance of the words of advice that were being issued,” she added.

Hewlett, of the Hawthorns in King’s Lynn, denies soliciting murder and stalking between January 2021 and August 2022.

The trial continues.