A jealous woman who plotted to have her love rival killed by a hitman was behind bars today after being jailed for seven years.

Paula Robinson, 57, of Walton Road, Kirby, stood in the dock with her head bowed as a judge at St Albans Crown Court told her: "This was a very grave offence."

Robinson had contacted the contract killer after her long-term partner Frank Saunders left her for barmaid Judy Sheldrake. However, he turned out to be a policeman working undercover .

At the end of a two-week trial in December, a jury unanimously found her guilty of soliciting a contract killer to murder Judy Sheldrake. She had denied the charge.

Judge Colin Colston told Robinson yesterday: "Your intention was for that woman to be killed. You wanted her out of the way in the hope that it would bring back Frank Saunders.

"It is clear that, from the moment he left you, you became consumed with jealously.

"I am in no doubt that by early 2000, you were keen to have Judy Sheldrake eliminated.

"It was not a fantasy being played out with Monopoly money."

He also ordered that £5,100 paid to the policeman called Jimmy for the job should be confiscated. The proposed murder was called off with just a day to go.

Edward Rees, mitigating, told the judge Robinson "never passed the point of no return".

Mr Rees said Robinson was profoundly vulnerable at the time.

He said: "She is now approaching her 60s and had lost, through infidelity, a 20-year relationship."

Experts had found she had a personality dependency order and needed a male figure in her life.

Mr Rees also said the lack of a clean break with Mr Saunders had left her with false hope.

Published Wednesday January 16, 2002