BRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Byline: MATT SLATER and SARAH CHAPMAN

AANN Huxley looks every inch the besotted bride as she gazes at her new husband. But her innocent appearance was a sham - the bride smiling lovingly at Ged Gilbert in this happy wedding photograph was actually a cold and calculating woman prepared to stop at nothing in her pursuit for cash.

Her greed was taken to an evil extreme when she masterminded the brutal murder of Mr Gilbert to get her hands on a pounds 400,000 insurance payout.

Yesterday a jury at Manchester crown court convicted Huxley of plotting her ex-husband's death - she lured the unsuspecting Mr Gilbert into a fatal trap which led to him being bludgeoned to death and paid her lover, Paul Eaton, and accomplice Paul Lewis to carry out the killing.

Eaton is already serving life after pleading guilty to murder. Lewis was convicted of murdering Mr Gilbert yesterday.

Huxley was sentenced to 20 years and Lewis jailed for life but Judge David Maddison, the Recorder of Manchester, set a minimum term for him of 16 years.

The judge also told the court that Eaton was jailed for life,and he must serve at least 18 years.

The judge said: ``These offences in my view were wicked and callous, involving a considerable degree of premeditation.

``This was quite plainly a case arising out of a contract killing by Lewis and Eaton and I have no doubt they were promised a large amount of money although I do not know how much.''

Turning to Huxley, he added: ``The fact that you took out the huge life insurance policy leads me to the conclusion this was your idea and what finally happened was a dreadful murder.

``It was said by your counsel that you have sorrow for the passing of your former husband. I have not detected that; I have no doubt that you have sorrow for your present predicament and for your daughter,but for that you must responsibility for your own criminal actions.''

Huxley, who has worn her wedding ring throughout the trial, showed no emotion as she was sentenced.

The judge told Lewis: ``The two of you have shown a complete lack of remorse. You were not involved in the substantial planning of this murder, you were recruited at a later stage.''

Mr Gilbert's sister, Susan, describes her as the ``black widow'' and senior detectives say she is the most manipulative women they have ever come across.

Huxley had already been married twice and had two children when she met Mr Gilbert in a nightclub.

His family told how, despite their warnings, he soon become ``totally infatuated'' with her. Mr Gilbe rt's sister,Susan, said: ``Huxley could be totally charming but we just did not like her.

``But Ged was totally infatuated even though he knew she had a darker side.

``In the end that devotion got him killed.''

The early part of Huxley and Mr Gilbert's marriage ran smoothly - despite her criminal underworld links through the escort agency she ran.

It provided businessmen with high-class call girls,but her loving husband turned a blind eye to her lifestyle.

But despite his devotion Huxley eventually got bored with Gilbert and they divorced in 2001. He pleaded with her to be given another chance and she agreed -on the condition that their large home on the edge of Newsham Park,Tuebrook, was totally signed over to her.

SUSAN Gilbert said: ``She had my brother wrapped around her little finger but he was blind to it. ``It was a strange situation. Ged was a really kind and caring man and I just wish he had got out of it then.

``If he had he would have been alive today and could have started a new life.''

After taking total ownership of their house Huxley began to plan other ways of getting money from her ex-husband.

Mr Gilbert worked at CTI Trading in Huyton and would often have to bring large amounts of cash home to look after overnight. The biggest was a cash wad of pounds 11,000 which was mysteriously taken during a burglary.

But detectives are convinced it was Huxley who organised the break-in.

Mr Gilbert was then landed with the debt which he had to pay back to his bosses. It wasn't only his finances that suffered through their union; Huxley had a series of affairs which left him heartbroken. As they lived under the same roof she would bring men home and have sex with them as the man who continued to adore her lay awake in his own bed just yards away.

DETECTIVE Superintendent Russ Walsh, who led the murder hunt, said: ``She got everything she wanted from Mr Gilbert.

``And then she really rubbed his nose in it.

``I have never come across a more manipulative woman who used men and then tossed them away.'' After bleeding Mr Gilbert emotionally and financially dry Huxley plotted her most sinister plan yet after taking out a pounds 400,000 life insurance policy for them both.

She pretended to try and repair their relationship and told him she wanted to re-marry.

But it was all a smokescreen to hide the fact she was planning to have him murdered.

Huxley struck up a romance with nightclub bouncer Paul Eaton and he agreed to kill Mr Gilbert in return for part of the insurance cash windfall - thought to be around pounds 100,000.

Eaton then got fellow bouncer Paul Lewis to help him carry out the killing in return for the same fee.

Huxley lured Mr Gilbert to the CTI Trading premises on the night of October 28, 2002, using an elaborate plan.

She told him one of her ``contacts'' had got his hands on thousands of pounds worth of cheap goods which Mr Gilbert could make a fortune by selling on.

Huxley told him to go to CTI Trading where the deal would be sealed. But when Mr Gilbert arrived he was battered to death with a fire extinguisher by the two burly bouncers. In the wake of the murder detectives quizzedHuxley on a number of occasions and were convinced she was heavily involved.

Eventually they got all three after piecing together their movements in the hours leading up to the killing and by studying telephone bills.

Mr Gilbert's sister Susan Gilbert, 43, was in court yesterday to see Huxley and Lewis convicted.

Afterwards she told to the family's relief at the outcome: ``We are very happy with today's verdicts.

``It has been a difficult 17 months for our family since Ged's death, but we feel that justice has finally been done.

``Nothing can ever bring Ged back to us,but we will always have our loving memories of a kind and cheerful man who never hurt anybody.''

Huxley's mother, Joyce Lomas, said: ``I cannot believe my daughter did this and from what she's told me I am convinced she didn't.

``She has done some wrong things in her life but would never do something this bad. I think there has been a conspiracy to send her to prison but I know she will stay strong and get through it.''

CAPTION(S):

BIG DAY: Huxley stares up in to the face of her new husband Ged Gilbert at their wedding