A 26-year-old woman reportedly tried to hire a dark web hitman to kill her co-worker when she discovered they were both having an affair with their Sports Direct store manager, a father of two with a long-term partner.
Whitney Franks, who was described in court as ‘unbridledly jealous’, is accused of hiring an online hitman after she posted a dark web ad offering £1,000 ‘or more’ for the attack.
Prosecutor Andrew Copeland told the court that the ad read, “I am looking for the murder of a woman. I have €1,000 and I am willing to pay more. This woman has caused myself and others many problems. Can you please help resolve this.’
Next to the advertisement was the address, Facebook profile and description of her colleague Ruut Ruutna.
The court was told that Ruutna was Franks’ colleague who joined the Milton Keynes store and began an affair with general manager James Perst, with the two women competing for his attention.
Whitney Franks reportedly posted an ad on the dark web offering £1,000 “or more” to someone to kill her colleague and romantic rival while they were both having an affair with their store manager, a father of two.
The court was told that Franks had set up a cryptocurrency account to make anonymous online purchases.
She bought Bitcoin for £282.57 on August 20, but withdrew the amount three days later, it was alleged.
The romance in the workplace is said to have started in 2016, a year after Franks started working at the store, and continued when Ruutna joined the team in 2017.
“They were not only colleagues from work, but love rivals of James Perst and both had a romantic relationship with him at the same time,” prosecutor Andrew Copeland said.
Franks put a barrier between their secret relationship and moved to another store in Bletchley in 2018.
The court heard how Perst, who has a long-term partner with two young children, tried to “play them off against each other” and that his relationship with both women was “episodic.”
“By 2020, while his partner and children were in bed, James Prest would often leave his house and go to Ruut Ruutna’s house,” the prosecutor said.
The court heard that an incident set Prest on the alert one night on August 17, 2020, when Franks showed up to the Milton Keynes Sports Direct to confront him about his relationship with Ruutna.
Perst was angry when she made a comment about him sneaking around at night.”
“Both ladies didn’t talk to each other or about each other – how did she know James Perst was walking around with Ruut Ruutna at night?” the prosecutor asked.
“She must have followed him,” he added.
Their relationship seems to have declined, with Franks emailing her manager asking her to give her another chance.
James Perst, pictured, was the general store manager of a Sports Direct store in Milton Keynes who allegedly began an affair with two of his subordinates. The court heard how he would ‘play them off against each other’ and that his relationship with both women was ‘episodic’
It read: ‘I can give you the whole world James, if you can give me a chance I think you could be the happiest you’ve ever been in your life. I really mean it,” the court heard.
“I hope you’re doing well inside and out. I tried to get rid of my fear. I’ve found some things that might help, so I’m going to try them.’
But instead of being shot by a cheap assassin, the online ad was seen by an investigative reporter at the BBC.
The court heard that the day after Franks wrote the letter to her manager, the police received a call from Carl Miller, who had been scouring the corners of the dark web.
The court heard that the post had been posted anonymously, with the police only able to determine that Ruutna was in danger.
Police quickly took her to save her home for her protection and continued the investigation.
Ruutna told police she had a “hint” behind the list, which led to the arrest of Franks on September 10, 2020, who is now on trial for soliciting murder at the Reading Crown Court.
Franks has denied the allegations, claiming she had only looked on the dark web and had no intention of attacking anyone.