Express & Star

Mother jailed for six years over plot to kill partner

A love-cheat mother who devised a crude plan to have her partner killed was today starting a six-year jail sentence – as it emerged she had wanted his death 'to be quick'.

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Kelly Cliff asked a former neighbour to arrange the killing of Carl Gallagher – with whom she had been in a 22-year relationship.

Her defending barrister told a court that she wanted him to die quickly.

As Judge John Wait jailed the 40-year-old at Wolverhampton Crown Court he said she was motivated by her own selfishness.

The court was told that she had repeatedly been unfaithful to Mr Gallagher throughout their relationship, which had seen them marry and divorce before reuniting.

Cliff approached former neighbour Dalton Bowen to help her get rid of Mr Gallagher, 'turning up out of the blue' at his home in Boswell Road, Bilston, in April.

But Mr Bowen reported Cliff to police and officers arrested her at the house she shared with Mr Gallagher in Brookfield Road, Aldridge, on May 5.

Cliff admitted she had wished her partner dead while talking to Mr Bowen but insisted she had not intended to be taken seriously.

But she was found guilty of soliciting a murder after a four-day trial last month.

Mr Guy Draper, defending, told the court Mr Gallagher had not been harmed and added: "Miss Cliff intended the death to be quick, but there is no evidence of how this would occur."

Judge Wait told Cliff she had lived in a selfish manner, and had blamed the family's financial problems on her partner.

He said: "The financial problems did not prevent you from going to spend money on a new car. The family financial problems did not stop you spending money on cannabis."

He told Cliff her claims of loyalty to Mr Gallagher 'did not sit easy with him' and added: "I have found I cannot rely on anything you have had to say."

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