Woman jailed for plotting to kill husband

A mother who took out a home improvement loan to pay a hitman to kill her husband was jailed for seven years at the Old Bailey today.

Zoe Kenealy, 44, wanted husband Timothy dead so she could scoop a £33,000 life insurance payout.

She gave neighbour Lee Waite a deposit of £3,000 to hire an assassin but he kept the money and gave evidence against her.

Today, Mr Kenealy, who says he has forgiven his wife and wants them to live together again when she is released from prison, watched as she was sentenced.

Kenealy, a care worker of Croydon, was convicted last month by a jury of soliciting to kill in January 2007. Sentencing, Judge Gregory Stone praised her family for contacting the police when they discovered her plan.