Murder plot couple jailed

A disgraced former policeman has been sentenced at the Old Bailey to two life terms in prison after plotting sex killings with his ex-lover.

Brian Darby, 55, from Enfield, north London, was convicted in December of conspiring with his former partner to murder women and children.

Jeannette White, 43, from Bristol, was jailed for seven years for conspiracy to murder.

The court was told Darby was a potential serial killer.

Judge Paul Focke told White: "I recognise you were under the spell of Darby and worshipped him.

'Vile plans'

"You would do anything for him and were desperate not to lose him.

"You were also a willing an enthusiastic supporter of Darby and all his vile plans."

Judge Focke told Darby, of Lavender Hill, Enfield, north London, he would be a risk to the public for the foreseeable future.

He said the couple had taken part in "torrid correspondence involving extreme sexual fantasies".

The pair, who first met when White was 14 and Darby was a beat officer, exchanged hundreds of letters which contained references to cannibalism and other acts.

We strongly believe that Brian Darby was a potential serial killer

Detective Constable Paul Johnson

At the end of 2000, the pair plotted to kill a woman in Westminster, central London, who wanted to exchange flats with White, of Burghill Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.

They plotted to kill her and her children but Darby was scared off because someone else was in her home.

A 45-year-old mother narrowly escaped death when he called at her home in Ealing, west London.

Aggravated burglary

Darby was arrested after he placed a wire noose around her neck intending to rape and kill her, but she managed to escape into the street.

He was given two life sentences after pleading guilty to attempted murder and being found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

He was jailed for a further seven years for aggravated burglary.

Detective Constable Paul Johnson said: "We strongly believe that Brian Darby was a potential serial killer who we identified before he had the opportunity to successfully carry out his plans to murder women and children."