A woman infatuated with a former work colleague who she is accused of trying to have killed posted on Facebook that he deserved to be shot in the groin, a court has heard. 

Helen Hewlett, 43, is accused of paying more than £20,000 to a site on the dark web that purported to supply hitmen willing to carry out murders.  

The married mother is also accused of stalking Paul Belton, 50, for more than two and a half years after being spurned following an intimate encounter between the pair in a car outside the factory where they both worked. 

Norwich Crown Court heard she bombarded the fellow worker with a stream of emails despite his efforts to block her from contacting him. 

She also sent him an explicit video of herself carrying out sexual acts and topless photos stating “just so you don’t forget what I look like”.

Eastern Daily Press: The Linda McCartney factory at Fakenham where Helen Hewlett became obsessed with a fellow work she is alleged to have tried to have killedThe Linda McCartney factory at Fakenham where Helen Hewlett became obsessed with a fellow work she is alleged to have tried to have killed (Image: Newsquest)

When he didn’t reply she took to Facebook posting that he “needed shooting” and that she was “sick of people who treat you like s*** and think they can get away with it”. 

In another post, she described him as “scum” who “takes advantage of people when they are at their lowest”. 

The court has heard that despite being given a formal warning by police not to contact him, she continued to send messages.

Prosecuting Marti Blair said the “relentless” ordeal continued after he left the Linda McCartney frozen food factory at Fakenham to a new job at nearby Kinnerton Confectionery.

Giving evidence on Wednesday from behind a screen, Mr Belton, who is also married with children, said he had replied to some emails after she falsely accused him of workplace sexual harassment and racist and homophobic comments.

In one he told her: “I just don’t know why you had to lie about that. It’s really not nice.”

Taken through the email exchanges by Ms Blair, he admitted some had been apologies and attempts to rekindle a friendship, including wishing him happy birthday, while others were abusive and threatening. 

Eastern Daily Press: Helen Hewlett is one trial at Norwich Crown CourtHelen Hewlett is one trial at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Hewlett, wearing a dark grey tracksuit, stared downwards and took notes throughout the hearing.

The court has previously heard she was arrested in August last year after tip-off to police that she had attempted to hire someone to kill him. 

The prosecution say she transferred £20,547 to the dark web site “Online Killers Market” requesting he be murdered but stating “it’s vital it looks like an accident”.

She later told police she had “no intention of going through with the order”. 

Hewlett, of the Hawthorns in King's Lynn, denies soliciting murder and stalking between January 2020 and August 2022.

The trial continues.