A Kenley wife who tried to hire a hitman to kill her husband has been jailed for seven years - despite her spouse's pleas for mercy.

Zoe Kenealy, was sentenced at the Old Bailey this morning after the court heard she gave her neighbour a downpayment to arrange the killing of her husband, Timothy.

During the 44-year-old's Old Bailey trial the court heard how Kenealy wanted her husband dead so she could pocket a £33,000 life insurance payout.

But her husband says she tried to hire an assassin because she felt he was smothering her with love.

Prosecutors told the court Kenealy, who had denied the charge against her, gave her neighbour, Lee Waite, a down payment of £3,000 to hire an assassin - but he just pocketed the cash.

The care worker was arrested in January 2007 after her mum, who had found out about the plot, contacted cops.

Waite was given a caution after he agreed to testify against Kenealy.

Despite being arrested and charged with trying to have him killed, Mr Kenealy still welcomed back his wife when she was released on bail.

In an interview with The Sunday Mirror Mr Keanley explained how after the initial anger the pair grew closer than ever.

He told the newspaper: "We'd sit up late having tea and toast. It was like she'd never even thought about having me done over."

The 51-year-old added: "I told her I wouldn't give up on her, and in those months waiting for the police action we became closer than we had been for years."

Since her conviction in April Keanley has sent her husband a string of letters from her cell in Holloway Prison apologising for leaving him with all the paperwork and bills.

In a letter to Mr Keanley she wrote: "Our relationship will never be the same as it was. Talking all night and eating sandwiches."

Mr Keanley says he will wait for her to get out of prison so they can resume their relationship.

Speaking after the sentencing Detective Inspector Jacquie Hands from Croydon CID who investigated the case said: "Domestic violence accounts for approx 25 per cent of the murder rate in London. It is of paramount importance that we pursue offenders and bring them to justice.

"Zoe Kenealy took action, which she intended to result in her husband being killed. She made a partial payment to a third party and believed that she had put him at serious risk.

"Had circumstances been as she thought they were, events could have taken a very different course.

"This has been an extremely distressing time for Mr Kenealy and his family, and our thoughts are with him at this time."