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Woman who tried to hire dark web hitman to kill love rival is jailed

(Thames Valley Police)
Whitney Franks, 26, used the dark web to find an assassin to murder a female victim. (Thames Valley Police)

A woman who attempted to hire a hitman to kill her love rival has been jailed for 12 years.

Whitney Franks, 26, used bitcoin accounts and the dark web to try and find an assassin to murder a female victim in her 20s.

But she was caught after an investigation commenced as a result of a report from the BBC, which was investigating the dark web - a collection of hidden internet sites.

The victim never came to harm, and Franks was arrested on 10 September 2020, before being charged by a postal requisition on 25 August last year.

Franks, of Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, was found guilty of soliciting to commit murder following a trial at Reading Crown Court in July and was jailed at the same court on Thursday.

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A general view of Reading Crown Court, Reading.
Franks was jailed at Reading Crown Court. (PA)

Between 17 August 2020 and 1 September 2020 in Milton Keynes, Franks embarked on a campaign of making threats to kill the victim.

Case investigator Lindsey Devoy from Milton Keynes CID, Thames Valley Police, said: “Following a thorough investigation, Franks was arrested and interviewed on 10 September 2020.

“Her mobile phone and iPad were seized and evidence was located that proved she had downloaded browsers to access the dark web.

“Franks set up Bitcoin accounts and made a request for the murder of a female victim."

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Devoy said the offence was “born out of jealously and deceit”.

He added: “Our victim was safeguarded from as soon as we were made aware of the possible threat to her life and she can finally rest more easily now that Franks has been convicted and is behind bars.

“Making threats to kill and preparing to carry out these threats is an extremely serious offence, and Franks has now been handed a significant prison sentence.

“I hope that the conclusion of this case will serve as solace for Franks’s intended victim. I would like to commend her for her courage and patience while we investigated this case and brought it to court.”